The Fates
Chapter 16

Celia's heart was beating wildly in her chest as she stood with her bow drawn. Everyone was deadly silent, waiting for Ximena to give the sign that she was allowed to shoot.

Apparently the one who had been challenged got to go first, Celia had much rather gone second.

The targets were simple wooden boards with rings on them, much like the ones she used to practice with Rhale at Amos estate, but these were a lot thicker than she was used to.

The furthest away from her was going to be the hardest, but she reminded herself that when she had shot the dragon it had been at a further distance. It had also been moving.

I can do this, I can do this, she chanted to herself. Celia had a clear view of Rhale from where she stood, he was standing close to Ximena and he gave Celia a look of encouragement. She smiled at him and Ximena made the sign, Celia let go of the arrow, still looking at Rhale.

Stupid she thought. But when she turned her eyes to the target she saw that she had hit it right in the middle. A perfect shot. She let out a sigh of relief, she needed to concentrate if they were even going to make it to the second round. Actually looking at the target when shooting seemed like a good place to start.

It was Amaras turn now and she shot without hesitation, it was a beautiful shot and it hit the target in the middle, just like Celia's. Celia could see, however, that Amara's arrow was slightly deeper in than hers, she knew that Amara was stronger so it did not come as a surprise.

It was Celia's turn again and she concentrated this time, keeping her eyes away from Rhale. Her arrow hit true but still not as deep as Amara's.

Amara yelled loudly as she drew her bow string so hard that Celia thought it was going to snap, the entire tip of the arrow and a good part of the wood went into the target. That had cost her slightly though, Amara's arrow was a little to the side, not quite in the middle.

The third targets were further away, the fourth being all the way back in the woods.

Celia took a deep breath and held it while she aimed, letting out the air as the arrow flew. It hit a bit deeper this time even though the distance was greater and it still landed in the middle. She glanced at Rhale and she smiled inwardly at how proud he looked, her whole body growing warm.

Celia's eyes left his at the sound next to her, Amara had drawn too hard this time and her string had snapped. The arrow still hit the middle but a little less deep, still deeper than Celia's.

They waited while someone brought Amara another arrow and Celia noticed the rings around Amara's arms.

Five rings.

Amara had been in battle, Celia felt respect go through her as she saw them. Amara was jealous of her relationship with Rhale, she could understand that, she would be jealous too. She had in fact been jealous when she first got here.

Fourth target now. Celia looked at her beautiful bow and thought of the Dryads who had made it for her, she looked at the arrow and thought about the bird who had given it's feathers.

Then she concentrated on her breathing, one deep breath at a time. She could feel the earth under her feet and she could feel its energy as it flowed beneath them all. Another deep breath, so deep that she could swear that she had pulled a little of the earth's energy into herself.

Celia lifted her bow, pulling harder this time, still holding her breath. She let go of the air in her chest at the same time as she let go of the arrow and it flew.

It flew so fast that she did not even see it before it shot right through the target and into the tree behind it. Amara smiled brightly next to her, until she realized the gaping hole in the middle of Celia's target.

Celia could not believe it... how?

She was frozen on the spot staring at the arrow. How could something like that even be possible?

Amara took her shot and her aim was true. This time however, Celia's arrow had most definitely gone deeper.

Ximena walked up to the targets and inspected them, when she came to the last target she turned and looked at Celia with shock. Ximena shook her head like she did not believe what she was seeing but her voice was still powerful when she spoke.

"Celia wins this round!"

"She must have cheated!" Amara said loudly and yells erupted around them. Some were yelling that there was no way she could have cheated, others wanted a rematch.

Ximena held up her hand and everyone settled down. "The round stands, on to the next one!"

Celia went to gather her arrows, as she came to the last one she wondered how she was going to get it out of the tree.

A hand came in front of her grabbing the arrow and pulled it straight out, managing not to break it.

"Don't ever doubt yourself," Rhale said as he handed her the arrow.

"I don't understand how I did that."

"There are a great many things you don't know about yourself, as I said, all you need is time."

There was no more time for them to talk, the throwers were ready and Amara had already taken her spot. Celia went to stand beside her and waited for Ximena's instructions.

"On my signals they will throw the plates up in the air." There were more than a dozen throwers from what Celia could see. "You will shoot as many as you can."

Both Amara and Celia positioned their arrows, Ximena made the sign and plates were thrown up in all different directions.

Celia let her instincts take over, her body knew what to do. She shot arrow after arrow, as fast as she could without missing a target. There was no use to shoot so fast that she would miss, that would cost her too much time.

It all went by too quickly and all the plates that had been thrown into the air hit the ground.

There was no way of knowing who had shot the most plates until Ximena had counted their arrows.

When Ximena was done counting she raised her voice again. "This round is a tie, the first was won by Celia. Celia is the winner."

Rhale came running forward and pulled her to him, he spun her around in circles and she laughed in relief. It was done, she had done it without making a fool of herself. She had even won!

"I knew you could do it." Rhale's rough voice whispered to her and for the first time in her life she was really happy to have someone believe in her when she did not even believe in herself.

Amara came up to them and to Celia's surprise Amara put her hand to her heart and congratulated her.

"I did not believe that you could win, I am surprised at how good you are with your bow."

"Thank you. I did not believe that I could win over you either."

"Will you come and spend some time with me tonight? You are leaving soon and I have not had the chance to be alone with you." Amara said to Rhale and put her hand on his arm, Celia knew that she was being petty but she wanted to rip Amaras hand away from his body.

Rhale smoothly took a step back and put his arm around Celia. Amara looked between the two of them, hurt showing in her eyes.

"You two can not be serious? How would it work out between you, she is on the run and you, Rhale, you know that you have to take"

Rhale interrupted Amara before she could finish her sentence "We are going to the land of the Gods, for joining."

Amara took a step back and Celia really felt sorry for her now, she could see that Amara really cared for Rhale. She could not ever imagine being the one Rhale had not chosen, it would have been too painful to bear.

"Good fortune to you both then." Amara said while putting her hand over her heart again.

"Congratulations" Khalil walked up, beaming at Celia before turning to Amara, "Don't worry sister, next time you will win."

"I see clearly now that I have already lost." With those words Amara walked away from them and Celia felt her chest tighten at the pain they had caused her.

"Excuse me, I will tend to my sister." Khalil said and ran after her, Celia was happy that Amara at least had a family that would comfort her.

"I hate that we are hurting her that much." She confessed to Rhale as they walked back to the house.

"She has only herself to blame. Celia." He said and stopped them as he turned to face her. "I want you to know that there has been nothing between me and her since we were young. I never wanted more with her and I made that clear. It was hundreds and hundreds of years ago now, why she still clings on to something that never was I do not know."

"You don't have to explain, you had a life before me and I understand that."

Rhale kissed her forehead sweetly before they began to walk again.

Once inside Rhale lifted her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs.

"You really were amazing out there." He said as he laid her down on the bed. Celia sighed in relief and let her body relax, she had been so tense the entire afternoon.

"I still can't figure out how I shot that arrow right through the target." He was removing her shoes for her and he kissed the tip of her toes as they came off.

"You will." He kissed the toes on her other foot now,it tickled a little and she laughed and pulled her foot back.

"In time?"

"In time, sweet, sweet Celia" Rhale moved over her and his hands spread her legs wide before lowering himself on top of her. His hips mips her core and Celia moaned out loud at the feel of him.

"If you only knew all of the things that I want to do with you, too you."

"Mm" was all she could muster as a reply, he was slowly moving his hips, making her core tingle and pleasure shoot up inside of her when he moved in a certain way.

"I long to have you naked underneath me, at my mercy. Will you be at my mercy Celia? Will you let me show you all the things your body is capable of?"

"Yes. Mm'' Her legs were shaking and her hips started to meet his thrusts at their own accord. As they grind against one another she wished that she really was, she he wanted to be naked under him, right now and at his mercy.

He put his mouth to her neck, sucking and kissing at secret spots, making her feel a wetness pool between her legs.

He easily moved her ridiculously flimsy dress to the side and sucked on one of her nipples.

Celia whispered the sensation he was causing, she could feel herself blush deeply but she could not replace it within her to care as long as he never stopped.

"I wonder what things you will let me do to you" he said as he moved to her other breast, sucking it and biting down on her nipple.

"Anything" she said between moans.

Rhale lifted his face to her "You don't know what you are saying but I will hold you to that." And then he kissed her deeply, roughly and possessively until Celia's head spun.

Like always Rhale started to pull back but she held on to him. She didn't know what she needed but she needed something. Her body was screaming, wanting more of what he had been doing.

"Please don't stop, don't ever stop."

"Soon Celia. When we are joined you won't be able to get away from me." He pulled her into his arms and held her shaking body, comforting her confused state.

Oh, she really hoped that they would be able to leave sooner rather than later.