Wish Upon a Star
By Kimberley Comeaux

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Sidra led Kristy into the large elegantly decorated room that was to be her new bedchamber. The furniture was large and bulky but the intricate carvings that were evident in every piece kept in from being gaudy.

"This was my father's chamber," Sidra told her with a little sadness lingering in her voice, "Darian has only recently moved into them, so I would imagine that you can change anything you would like to. in here."

Kristy smiled at her new sister and said, "I can’t imagine what I would change, as it is a feel a little like Cinderella must have felt when she walked into that ballroom."

Sidra looked at her strangely, "Who’s Cinderella?"

Kristy laugh, "No, I guess you wouldn’t have heard of her, yet. Cinderella is a story that I read once.

"So, you were taught to read, also! Good. I have shall have someone to share my books with." she exclaimed sounding quite pleased at this new information. Then that strange light appeared once again in her eyes and she ask her a question, "Kristy, why do you have such a strange accent? I don’t believe I have heard it before."

Oh, boy. Here we go, again! "Sidra, If I told you I’m not sure that you would believe me. No one else has, so far."

Sidra, who was always one for a mystery, looked at her anxiously with a gleam in her gray eyes, "Oh, tell me. I will believe you."

Kristy let out a sigh, walked over to the fur covered bed and plopped down wearily on it’s softness as she thought out carefully just how she was going to explain her story. "Sidra, have you ever made a wish for something -maybe because you were feeling sad, and you wished you could be someone else?" she asked and saw Sidra nod her head sadly. It hadn’t been too long ago.

"Well, that’s just what I did, last night. And…my wish was granted," she said slowly and carefully. Hoping to make her understand.

She did. "Are you trying to tell me that you are someone other than Christiana of Cranbrook? But that’s impossible!" She looked at her with unbelief.

Kristy looked at her intently, feeling a desperate need to make her believe. "I know it’s sounds that way - I don’t know if I could believe it if it were the other way around. But, Sidra, if I am not telling the truth may God strike me down !" She saw Sidra hesitantly lift her eyes, heavenward, thinking God would take her up on it. "I am from the future, the year 1999. I come from a country that no one in this century has discovered yet. I made a

wish that .1 could be someone else...someone’s wife. Christiana made a wish that she could be someone else also, because she didn’t want to marry your brother. Because we look alike, we were both granted our wishes. Now, I am here and she has taken my place."

Sidra wore a confused expression, her brows were knitted together as she pondered all that she had just been told. Was Darian’s wife mad? Looking at her she didn’t think so. Could she be making this up to get away from Darian? She didn’t know. But she couldn’t help feeling that this girl who was just two years younger than herself was telling her the absolute truth. But that truth was preposterous!

"Christiana...or what is your real name?"

"Kristy Kendrick."

"Er...Kristy..I truly want to believe you but I find it so hard to do...." her voice trailed off to a whisper.

Kristy got up from the bed, wearing a tired smile and went over to Sidra and took her hand. "Maybe you can believe me better, once you have gotten to know me. I can promise you I am not crazy or mad so please don’t be afraid of me now that I have told you this." As she said this she could feel Sidra relaxing. "I have married your brother and though we are strangers I promise you that I will be a good wife to him. Maybe this is my destiny. Maybe I had to go back in time to find my real purpose in life. Whatever the reason, I am here. And I would like very much to be your friend." She chuckled to herself as she looked at her vast surroundings and replied with a mock gravity, "I think that I am going to need your help. How do you people clean this place, anyway!"

Sidra laughed and went over to hug her new friend. "Of course we shall be friends and as far as how the castle gets cleaned, I would not know. But together maybe we can figure it out!" She linked her arm though Kristy’s and walked over to the trunks that had been brought up. "And mayhap you and I shall find some time for you to tell me about this strange place that you come from, eh?"

Kristy looked down at the petite lady and smile gratefully at her while giving her arm a squeeze. "I would very much like that." Then they called for Nan and began the process of moving her into her new home.

Darian wearily mounted the stairs on route to his chamber, his new found evidence laying heavily on his mind. He would have to deal with this matter as soon as possible, but how? He had been ordered to leave for London and he knew he there was no way around it. King Richard had heard that Prince John, his brother, had been stirring up trouble and Darian was to meet with the traitorous prince to make sure that all was well or, more to the point, make sure that he knew that he was being watched...closely.

His face grew grim when the King’s huge frame filled his thoughts. He loved the king like a brother and would die to protect his liege lord, but he did not agree with Richard’s constant absence from his throne. Not when his greedy brother was wielding every trick to gain the highest title. John would only bring England to ruin, that Darian was sure.

He sighed and ran a callused hand through his dark locks. Worthingham would have to wait. But with his sister here at the castle, she was surely in danger if Worthingham found out she was here. As much as he hated it, Tilden would have to stay behind to watch out for Sidra. He needed his friend on this journey into London but his trusted knight would serve a better purpose here. Tilden would see no harm came to her, that he was assured of.

There were other things, however, that he was not so assured of. He thought gravely as he reached his chamber door. And his wife was definitely high on that list.

He had been baffled by the jealousy flashing in her blue eyes, this evening when she had seen Sidra. And today on the journey she had sworn to him that she’d be a good wife to him. Why? All he had demanded was that she be faithful to him, yet she seemed insulted that he would not swear the same.

He never fully understood women, and this woman was most certainly a mystery to him. Christiana, with her strange accent and her defiant ways. She was unlike anyone he had ever met. And, by God, she showed no fear of him even when he had threatened her. Nay! Instead she had turned his warning around and teased him with it!

He shook his head and put his hand to the gold dipped handle on the chamber door. He hesitated. He, Darian of Greystone, the feared knight of the king, the one who had brought men to their knees with only a cold piercing look from his hard gray eyes, the one who hadn’t thought twice about drive his blade through the heart of his enemy while staring unremorsefully in their eyes as they cried out for mercy. He, Darian the Barbarian, as his countess so aptly put it, was actually feeling uncertain about what waited him on the other side of the great door.

With an impatient breath he push open the door, letting it swing and give a mighty smack against the wall.

His gray stare met with his wife’s wide startled ones as she sat in a chair with her maid behind her, in the middle of the room. Apparently she had just donned the silky, very revealing nightgown and Nan was plaiting her long dark hair.

Kristy quickly regained her composure and her blue eyes turned fiery. "Good Grief, Darian. Do you always enter rooms like that? Or do you just enjoy scaring the wits out of people?"

Darian stood still in the doorway and ran a heated gaze over the transparent nightshift. He look pointedly at Nan and rasped out, "Leave us."

Nan looked nervously down to the half-way finished braid and held it up helplessly while mumbling, "But, my lord, her hair....."

"’'Tis not important. I ask you now, madam, to leave - NOW!" He grasped the door impatiently and held it while the frightened ladies maid quickly exited.

As he shut the door, Kristy stood up and planted her fist on her slim hips and huffed. "Was that necessary? Really, Darian, you’re not very nice at times. You need to work on that!" she scolded him.

He gave her a searing look while he begin to remove his tunic and replied in a low tone. "The only thing that I want to work on this night, my lady, is you."

She felt herself pale at words and found she had no quick comeback. "Uh…oh!"

"Ah, you understand what I am asking for?" he asked huskily as he came and stood closely before her and began fingering the ribbon ties at her throat. "I want you and I will have you. I need not speak pretty words for that to happen. Nor do you need my words to make you want me in return, my lady. Do you..." he trailed off to a whisper as he ran his hand between the loosened laces and pressed them against her chest. He could feel the quickened beat of her heart and the fast rise and fall of her breath.

Kristy knew that she was trembling. Knew that HE knew. But she could not stop it. She couldn’t move. Her mind willed it, but her body refuse to comply. It wanted his touch, it crave his warmness. Not even Cory had made her feel such abandonment.

She composed herself enough to squeak out, "Can we talk about this?" Her face wore a pleading, hopeful expression.

"Nay." The answer was short and to the point. No arguing that tone.

"Oookay," she drug out. Was it getting hot in here? His lips had moved to her lips.

She groan as she open her mouth under his and responded his to his movement, their tongues wielding together fervently. She had been kissed many times in her lifetime by a dozen of so guys but never, never like this.

She gave an impatient cry as he tore his lips from hers and gripped the sides of her face with his strong hands and forced her to look at him. His eyes narrowed and his voice was accusing. "Why is it that I do not doubt that you have done this before."

She at first didn’t understand his sudden anger and she answered him, "Yes. I have kissed before..." but stopped when she saw his face harden and close. "Darian, I’ve kissed but I’ve never been with a man, not intimately," she replied honestly, hoping that he would believe her.

But Darian believed in no one. He lifted her up, non-too-gently, and dumped her on the furs that covered the massive bed. "We shall see if you tell the truth. We shall see, Christiana, whether I, indeed, married a lady or in truth a whore!" His voice was seething with malice. His countenance was even more cold, more grim, than it had been before.

She immediately scrambled out of his reach and out of the bed. Fire was blazing from her eyes as she rounded the bed and glared at him. "You just try to hurt me, buddy and I promise, you’ll regret it!" she threatened in a low growl. She knew what she was doing…sort of. Now was the time to see if those judo lessons had been worth her money.

He came at her picture perfect. A class example if there ever was one. One moment he was standing up, the next, he lay flat on his back.

He could do nothing but blink at her in disbelief.

She swallowed and pretended that she was perfectly calm and cool. "I warned you."

For one terrifying moment she honestly thought he was going to get up and hit her. But the next moment, he started to laugh.

"By all that is holy, I have married crazy woman! I try to seduce her and she tries to kill me." He said almost to himself, in between chuckles.

She noticed he was moving stiffly as he got up from the floor and she felt guilty. "Did I hurt you?" she asked hesitantly.

He merely quirked an eyebrow at her. "You insult me, lady. The only reason that I ended up on my backside is that I underestimated you. Believe me that it will not happen again!" he said with assurance mixed with loads of arrogance.

She snickered. "Wanna make a bet?"

"Aye!" he said with a knowing smile. "What will I get if I win?"

She thought about that and then thought about the odds. "You get me."

He smirked. "I get you anyway."

"Willing and cooperative."

He thought about that and smiled. "And if by some miracle that you win…" he prompted.

"Then we wait." He frowned at that, but she went on. "We get to know one another first. You know, spend time with one another." He still frowned. The man was dense. "For at least a few days," she finished with a sigh.

He shrugged. "It matters not. I will win."

She took a deep breath. "So…come on and we will see!"

Kristy wasn’t quite sure if she could do it, again. The man was huge, and he’d be ready this time. But she stayed focused and…

BAM! She did it!

Darian just shook his head in disbelief. "I cannot believe that you did it to me again."

Kristy breathed a sigh of relief. "I win."

He grimaced. "Aye, I suppose that you do," he grumbled as he pulled himself upright and off the floor. He let his eyes make a slow sweep down her body. His voice and eyes were full of regret when he next spoke. "Are you sure that this is what you want?"

With those smoldering eyes looking at her that way, she wasn’t so sure! But no. She had to stick to her guns. It was better this way.

Although…there was this teeny tiny little voice…way deep down…that reminded her that they WERE married.

It’s better this way, she scolded herself.

"Yes, it’s what I want," she told him.

He studied her a moment more. "What I accused you of…earlier. Am I wrong?" he asked her with all seriousness. She knew that her answer was very important.

"Yes, you are wrong, Darian. I’ve never been with a man before. It was just you that made me react so," she assured him.

Suddenly his countenance grew dark again and he swung his eyes to the bed.  "I like this arrangement, not," he stated grimly.

She folded her arms and smirked at him.   "You'll get over it."

He glared at her.  "Words are put together strangely, yet I kin their meaning quite clear.  You speak much boldness for someone who is unmatched in every way."

She laughed (not a smart thing to do) and said, "It wasn't me who was thrown on the floor."

The next thing she knew she was flat on her back, lying on the bed, and the Incredible Hulk was atop of her.  "Now, just who is on their backs, hmmm?"

"You win," she squeaked out.   "Now get off."

"Nay!"

She blinked at his answer.  Then blinked again when she felt his body respond to her.  His eyes were no longer angry, but smoldering with desire.  He was a hair's breath away from her lips.   "This bargain was made with haste.  Tell me I do not have to honor it."

Tell him, you nitwit! one part of her screamed.  Heat enveloped her body and a yearning swept through her soul like never before.  But she was not ready for this.  She'd only claimed to be in love with another man just last night.  Her body wanted him, her head told her to go for it, but her heart would not let it be so.

Regretfully, she shook her head.   "I must insist that you honor the bargain, Darian.  It is better this way."

He growled as he lifted his body from hers and stomped about the room gathering his clothing.  "Be it that I was a more dishonorable man!  Then what would you do, Christiana?  Other men would have taken you and been done with it."

It was the testosterone that was talking, she tried to remind herself, as her irritation grew.  But he did have a point.   She was in a different time.  A time that held none of the social morals of her society.  She was his wife.  He had every right to take her.

Thank God, she had taken those Judo classes!

"I do appreciate..." she started to say but was interrupted.

"Nay!  I do not want your appreciation.  It is not appreciation that will keep you warm on the nights that I will be away.  We have only this night, yet you waste it with a useless bargain."  He snorted and stared at her with a disgusted look.  "How is it that you plan to keep me faithful, wife, when you give me nothing to keep my attentions at home."

With that last sentence, he stomped out of the room and slammed the door.

"Jubal" Kristy called out to the empty room.  She wanted to leave.  She hated it here in this dark, unreal world where nothing nor anyone was familiar.  She hated the man who called himself her husband.  She didn't want to share his life.  And she most definitely did not want to share his bed!

But as she had a hard time falling asleep that night, because a constant voice kept ringing in her head saying, "LIAR!"

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