Chapter 22

Confused, Ashta looked at Roman for a moment, and then she sighed. She wanted to work with him like the gods had asked her, but deep down inside, she wanted to spend time with the handsome man. Ashta looked back into his eyes, and she put her hands together.

"I was wondering if you would like to go with me to the Garden of Eternity?" she asked, assertively. 

Curiously, Chantelle and Roman looked at each other, and then Chantelle smiled. Roman looked at Ashta with a questioning look, and he raised an eyebrow.

"You are willing to work with me after everything that has happened?" he asked in surprise.

Ashta looked at Roman thoughtfully, and then she blew out a breath. 

"I will be one hundred percent honest with you. I don't trust you, but if the gods say that we are to work together, then I must trust them,” she said, confidently. 

Roman studied her for a moment as he picked his cup back up, and he took a drink. 

"So, what did you tell the king about me?" he asked, as he set down his cup, looked at his fork, and then he looked back at her. Ashta shook her head.

"Nothing, and I also told everyone to keep their mouths shut,” she said, as she clapped her hands quietly. 

Evidently, she was not too thrilled that he was giving her an attitude, but she dismissed her thoughts as she let out a breath. Roman smirked, and then he nodded.

"Okay, sure, I will go to the garden with you,” he said with a charming smile. 

He then picked his plate up off of the table and carried it to the sink. Ashta was amazed to see that he actually knew how to take care of himself, and he didn't expect his mother to wait on him hand and foot. Chantelle looked at her son, and she gave him a meaningful look.

"You better be nice to her,” she told him, and he smirked, as he looked at the floor.

"I will,” he said, softly. 

"I know this must be confusing for the both of you, but trust your instincts above anything else. You two were brought together for a reason,” she said with an eager smile. 

"Yes, mother," Roman said, as he bowed his head to her. 

Satisfied, Chantelle bowed her head to her son, and then she turned her gaze on Ashta. 

"Please be easy on him." 

Roman looked up at Ashta, and she grinned at him. She then turned her attention back to Chantelle. 

"I believe that he is a little tougher than you give him credit for. After all, he and I have battled before," Ashta said, thoughtfully, and Roman chuckled at her. 

"Well, then you two take care of each other this time. You are not fighting against each other in a horrible dirt pit," Chantelle said, thoughtfully, and Ashta laughed. 

"You ready?" Roman asked, as he wiped his hands on his pants, and Ashta nodded. 

Happily, Chantelle waved them off as Roman and Ashta left the cottage for the garden. 

**********************

Peacefully, Ashta and Roman walked to the Garden of Eternity as the townsfolk came out and waved at them. It was really a peaceful kingdom, besides the fact that all of the vegetation was dead and looked ugly. However, it gave the kingdom a sense of being authentic and ancient.

They walked into the little garden together, and Ashta looked around as she took in an easy breath, and then let it out. The garden was a very peaceful place, and it didn't matter what had happened. This was their sacred ground, and Ashta respected it. 

Silently, Ashta looked up at Roman, and she held out her hand to him. For a moment, Roman looked down at her hand, and then he looked back up at her as he swallowed. Nervously, he took her hand as she slipped her shoes off, and then he slipped out of his sneakers. Carefully, she stepped onto the large, flat boulder, and then Roman did the same. Intrigued, Roman watched her as she closed her eyes, and he did the same. 

"Listen," Ashta whispered. 

Roman closed his eyes, and he blocked out all of the sounds that were around him. He listened.

"Trust her,” the air whispered to him, and he couldn't help but smile. 

At that moment, Roman opened his eyes, and he looked at Ashta. At that same moment, Ashta looked up at Roman, and their eyes locked as everything around them disappeared. There was a sense of peace between them that threw them both off guard. Ashta grinned shyly as she broke their eye contact, and she looked at the ground.

"Let's introduce you to the air element,” she suggested, and he nodded as she looked back up at him. 

They spent the morning dancing with the air element, and to Ashta's surprise, Roman was a fast learner and he caught on very quickly. She explained to him that he needed to let his emotions flow through him and with the element, and amazingly, he did just that with no questions asked. 

"Okay. That was very good,” she said, as she chuckled, and he smiled at her. 

At that moment, he felt as if they had made a deeper connection that he could not explain. Ashta had felt the same way as well. 

"Thank you,” he said, as they both felt the connection surge through their bodies.

What was that?" Ashta asked herself, as she shook her head. 

She looked at Roman for a moment, and then she dismissed the feeling. 

"Okay, now let's see how you are with your combat skills,” she said, as she took a fighting stance. 

Roman raised an eyebrow as he smirked at her. She knew his combat skills, and he felt as though she might have been flirting with him. 

"Alright, sweetheart. Let's see what you have got,” he said, as he pulled his t-shirt off. 

Uncontrollably, Ashta found herself staring at his amazingly chiseled chest for a moment, and then she looked up at him. 

Why did he have to go and do that? Ashta thought, as she glanced over his body again. 

Roman smirked at her, and then he waved for her to come at him. Ashta smiled as she ran at him. She hit him in the neck, the chest, and then she kicked his legs out from underneath him and pushed him to the ground. Evidently, Roman landed on his back, and then he looked up at her. 

"Is that the best you can do?" she asked, as he wiped his face with his hand. 

He gave her a clipped nod, and then he got to his feet. Ashta took a step back, so that Roman could get back up on the rock. Suddenly, Roman came at Ashta quickly, and he punched her in the shoulder. Quickly, Ashta lost her balance and fell off of the boulder. As she fell to the ground, her head smacked against the boulder, and she laid on the ground, unmoving. Immediately, Roman jumped off the rock, and then he ran over to her. He saw that she was not moving, and that there was blood running from the gash on her forehead. 

"Ashta, I am sorry,” he said, as he knelt down beside her. 

Carefully, Roman lifted her head in his hands, and he stared at her face intently. 

"Come on, Ashta,” he whispered, as he held her gently. 

A moment later, Roman saw her eyes flutter open, and he sighed a sigh of relief. 

"Oh, thank the gods,” he breathed, as he looked into her eyes. 

She searched his eyes and looked at him, confused. 

"What happened?" she asked him. 

"I am sorry. I knocked you off the boulder, and you hit your head on the way down,” he whispered, as he looked into her eyes. 

Softly, Ashta searched his beautiful brown eyes, and she saw something in them she had never seen before. He was starting to care for her. Suddenly, she saw the softness fade. 

"Roman?" she asked softly, and he looked over her face. 

"Yeah?" he asked, as his eyes flickered back to hers.

"Never stop caring,” she said softly, as she put her hand to his face. 

At that moment, Roman felt his heart melt, and he leaned his face into her palm. It was warm and comforting. 

"Okay, I won't,” he whispered, as he closed his eyes. 

For a few moments, Ashta and Roman stayed that way, and then he held her to her feet. They both felt the connection between them grow even stronger. 

*******************

As the afternoon went by, they practiced their fluent dance a little while longer, and Ashta could see he was trying to change. 

"What are we going to learn next?" he asked, as he and Ashta took turns drinking out of the fountain that was at the far end of the park. 

"Well, tomorrow I thought we could work on the water element,” she said, as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and Roman nodded. 

He didn't want the day to be over yet, because he liked spending time with Ashta. 

"So, be ready in the morning,” she said, and he nodded. 

That's it? Now, what am I going to do the rest of the day? Roman thought to himself, a little bummed. 

"There you are!" 

Suddenly, Roman and Ashta looked at the entrance of the garden, and they saw Lashanna, Damian, and Xavier standing there. Ashta smiled. 

"You found me,” she said, cheerfully, and Roman rolled his eyes. 

Damian noticed the gash on Ashta's head as he looked her over, after he was done eyeballing Roman. 

"Oh, Ashta, are you hurt?" he asked, as he ran up to her with panic on his face. 

"No, I am fine really,” said Ashta, as she chuckled. 

Angrily, Damian turned to Roman, and he snarled at him. 

"What did you do to her?" he growled. 

Roman raised his eyebrows at Damian, and then he crossed his arms over his chest. 

"It was an accident, and like she said, she is fine," Roman growled, and Damian looked at Ashta with care. 

"Come on, let's get you back to the castle,” he stated, as he grabbed her arm. 

Evidently, Ashta felt a little annoyed as she quickly pulled her arm from his grasp, and she put her hands up. 

"I said I am fine, and if you will excuse us, we will be done in a few minutes,” she said, heatedly, as she glared at Damian. 

Immediately, Damian looked at her surprised, and then he hung his head. Ashta looked up at Roman, and she jerked her head towards the entrance. He nodded, and then they walked out of the garden. 

"Sorry about that. I guess our playdate is over until tomorrow,” she said, as she nudged his arm with her shoulder. 

At that moment, Roman uncrossed his arms, and he looked down at her. 

"It doesn't have to be,” he whispered, and she looked up at him.

"What do you mean?" she asked in confusion. 

Roman looked down at her thoughtfully, and without another thought, he scooped her into his arms, and they were gone in a blink of an eye. He didn't know why, but he wanted to spend as much time with her as he could. 

Suddenly, Roman stopped, and he set Ashta down on the ground, and they both looked around. He had brought her to the top of a mountain that overlooked the land. Tall mountains reached to the sky in the distance, and the land stretched out as far as the eye could see. It was a magnificent sight. 

"Wow. This is amazing!" Ashta exclaimed, happily, as she felt the wind in her hair. 

Ashta could see a beautiful waterfall flowing from one of the nearby mountains, and the air felt crisp and clean. Roman chuckled as he looked at her. 

"This is actually my favorite place to come. To get away from everything and everyone," he explained, and she looked up at him with wide eyes. 

"And you chose to share it with me?" she asked, as she looked back out at the scenery. 

Roman chuckled again as he looked out at the scenery with her.

"Yeah, I guess I did." 

Ashta smiled at him. She was glad to see the softer side of the man that was told to kill her in the arena. 

"Plus, I am sure this is far away enough from your friends ever finding out where we are," he added, as Ashta's smile faded. 

"Oh, they are not that bad,” she said, as she winked, and Roman looked at her sideways. 

"Damian, is it? That guy wants to be your mate,” he teased, and Ashta busted out laughing. 

"My mate?" she said with tears in her eyes. 

What was this, the eighteen hundreds? Who says mate anymore? Ashta wondered, as she giggled at the thought, and Roman looked at her and grinned.

"Yes, you're betrothed,” he said, and Ashta laughed harder, as he looked at her in question. 

"Roman, have you hit your head today? Are you saying he wants to sleep with me?" she asked, as she wiped her eyes, and he nodded.

"He does not!" she exclaimed, as she snorted, and Roman gave her a knowing look. 

"What about you? Do you want him to be your mate?" he asked lightly, and she looked at him and laughed again. 

"What? You mean?" she asked, as she put her palms together and pushed them together repeatedly. 

Roman laughed a hearty laugh, and shook his head. 

"That and then some,” he joked, as he smiled. 

Gently, Ashta pushed his shoulder and giggled. 

"Stop it! No, I don't want to, whatever, with him,” she said, as she shook her head. 

Lightly, Roman chuckled, and then he looked her over. 

"You are strange to me, my dear, princess,” he said, as he gave her a sideways glance. 

Ashta looked at him and straightened. 

"And you aren't?" she asked, as she laid her hand across her chest, dramatically. 

"I have met no one quite like you before,” he said, as he looked at her softly. 

"I am sure you have met plenty of girls," Ashta muttered under her breath. 

Curiously, Roman looked at her as he sat down on the ground, and he leaned back on his hands as he stretched out his legs. Ashta sat down next to him and took the same position. 

"Actually, yes, that is true, but I never had time for girls with my dad's fight club, training every day and meeting up with his and the queen's demands,” he said seriously, as he looked out onto the land.

Irritated, Roman bent his knees, and he leaned forward as he rested his elbows on his bent legs. He made a disgusted face as he looked down at the ground and huffed a chuckle. Ashta looked at him softly, and she touched his arm.

"I am sorry you had to go through that." 

Roman shrugged, and Ashta pulled her hand back, quickly. 

"It happened, but things are different now,” he stated, as he lifted his head back up, and  his eyes searched the wide open space. 

"Okay,” she whispered. 

Seemingly, Ashta didn't want to push him into anything that he wasn't comfortable talking about. At that moment, Roman smiled at her, and he jumped to his feet. He turned to her and held out his hand. 

"Come on,” he said, happily, as she took his hand. 

Without a moment's notice, they ran quickly through the forest, and then suddenly they were inside, behind the waterfall. There was a cave behind the curtain of rushing water. Suddenly, Roman turned to Ashta with a serious look on his face.

"Listen, you were honest with me earlier, so now it is my turn,” he said, as she searched his eyes. 

Was he going to tell her that this was all a plan to get her trust and then he was going to destroy them all? she thought, as she held his gaze. 

"I am not sure what this feeling is, but I do know that I want to be with you every second of the day. Being with you makes me feel like I am at peace,” he said softly, and she looked at him. 

"Roman, slow down. What do you mean?" she asked, as she studied his face. 

Gently, Roman brushed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear as he held her gaze. 

"I can't explain it, but can we be friends?" he asked innocently. 

Ashta giggled and nodded. 

"Sure, we can be friends." 

Roman couldn't help but feel a happy feeling come over him, and he smiled shyly at her. 

"Are you ready to head back?" he asked, as he jerked his head toward the exit of the waterfall, and Ashta shook her head. 

"No, but we should get back before they really freak out,” she whispered, as she looked into his eyes, and he happily grinned at her as he scooped her into his arms. 

"Keep doing this, and I will really feel like a princess,” she joked, as she threw her arms out, dramatically. 

He smirked, and then suddenly they were back at his house. 

"Betcha, Damian can't do that,” he whispered, proudly, and Ashta chuckled, as she shook her head. 

He set her down on the porch, and they were standing at his front door. Suddenly, Chantelle opened the front door, and stared at them in surprise. Roman and Ashta looked at her, and they were still arm in arm. 

"Hi,” said Ashta. 

"Hi,” greeted Chantelle, as she looked at her and her son. 

She smiled a small smile, and Ashta turned her gaze back to Roman. 

"Tomorrow morning,” said Ashta with a shy smile, and Roman smiled back at her. 

"I can't wait. Thank you. I really had fun today,” he said softly, as she could feel the base of his voice in his chest, and she felt the goosebumps starting to rise on her arms. 

Swiftly, he brought his lips down to her cheek and he kissed her. Ashta looked up at him and blushed. 

Maybe his idea of friendship was something else? she thought, and then she quickly dismissed her thoughts. 

"Me too,” she said, as she let go of him, and he smiled as he let her go. 

"Bye,” she said, and he waved to her as he watched her walk down the path toward the castle. 

"Somebody had a better day than he thought he would," Chantelle teased with a bright smile. 

"Mom,” said Roman, as they walked into the house.