Love Without Time Limits (AC2)

It was a quiet, moonless night, shrouded in an oppressive deep fog. I bolted, lungs burning, legs screaming, yet the earth-shaking hoofbeats seemed impossibly close. I trod off the dirt path and plunged deeper into the forest. The thick oak canopies made it harder to see. Twisted branches snagged at my clothes and sent me tripping onto the damp undergrowth as my knees buckled with fear. Clip-clop! Clip-clop! The rhythmic clop of hooves steadily grew louder, a relentless counterpoint to the frantic hammering of my heart. Should I climb a tree? Do I even have time to climb a tree? Yes, I should stay put, up there hidden somewhere, until he gives up looking for me. A flicker of desperate hope ignited. Lurching towards the sturdiest oak, I reached for a low branch. Just as I grasped it, a towering silhouette of him and his majestic horse appeared from the swirling fog. His roar, "Think you can escape me?" echoed like thunder through the silent forest. Abandoning the tree, I plung

The commotion outside my makeshift bedroom was impossible to ignore. Through the flimsy walls, I could hear the clatter of dishes and the excited hum of conversation. Apparently, the Druid was staying for lunch. My stomach rumbled in agreement as I learned Allena's father had snagged a wild boar–a feast in the making. Iona walked me to the bath, our footsteps echoing on the rough wooden floor. Hushed whispers and hurried footsteps filled the air as a towering figure, dwarfing even Allena's brothers, emerged with Boann and grabbed hold of my arm. His bushy mustache twitched as he spoke, his anxiety evident in his rapid-fire words. "Allena, listen closely," he rasped, his grip tightening on my arm. "The Druid cannot know about your loss of memory. It was his idea to ally with the Romans. If he finds out that you don't remember a thing, he may have second thoughts about choosing you as the bride. I put too much at stake, so this wedding has to happen." He turned to look at his wife and

The air hummed with anticipation. The crisp wind whipped around the hillfort, carrying the scent of roasting meat and nervous excitement. I looked down at the River Boyne, which like a silver ribbon, snaked along one side, while majestic mountains guarded two others.The chief's family and their kin gathered from all sides, overlooking a panoramic vista. They appeared to be wearing their best outfits; tartan woven skirts or long trousers, fur cloaks, brooches, armlets, and torcs. "There they are!" Iona exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement.Goosebumps erupted in my skin as I followed her gaze to the distant procession snaking its way towards us, litters and carriages pulled by snorting horses and burly mules, and impossibly handsome horseback riders."And there he is! Isn't he gorgeous?" Iona nudged me with a mischievous grin.A shiver ran down my spine as my eyes landed on a man riding ahead of the others. He emanated an aura of raw power, his face etched with a scowl that sent

   It was mid-afternoon the following day when the Romans were getting ready to leave. They camped all over the hillfort starting from outside our house down to the village.     Marcus and the men that rode with him in the front of the procession Yesterday were nowhere to be seen. They seemed to be his close buddies. They kept him company throughout his meet and greet with the villagers during the feast. And yet they didn't care to say a word to me. Most of his family, except for his mom, grandparents, and one sister, didn't seem to care about talking to me or my family. In fact, his brothers' wives gave me hostile looks.

 Marcus's POV    I am not sure what exactly happened. Ever since I set my eyes on Allena, I feel bewitched. I have seen women that are far prettier and well endowed than her. Any man would find my girlfriend, Laelia, irresistible. I had no doubts about how much I loved her and felt dedicated to her. And yet, my faith in love and loyalty seemed to be shaken now. I couldn't put thoughts of Allena away from my mind. And I couldn't put a finger on what's causing these irrepressible feelings.    I felt thunderstruck when I saw Allena. I tried to hide the waves of emotions I experienced, tried to p