They are caught.

Aarni floated for a while, then slipped into the water fully, blowing out the air in his lungs and sinking into the deep pool, it got hotter as he sank, and he didn’t go very far before swimming back up to the surface. When he broke the surface, his guard had stepped to the edge and she looked nervous.

“Do not do that again.” She said. Aarni felt a little compassion for her, having the prince drown on your watch probably wouldn’t go well for her, but he didn’t feel bad enough to avoid teasing her.

“Were you about to jump in and save me? It might be worth it.” He said, looking her over slowly and intently. “If you are concerned you could always join me and make sure I beha. . .”

She cut him off, grabbing his arm and putting her finger to his lips.

He held still and silent, listening.

He heard splashes behind him, past the rocks. He heard giggles and women’s voices.

There must be a bigger spring just on the other side of the rocks.

“Be quiet,” she whispered to Aarni.

He obeyed and listened, there were probably three or four women on the other side, they were settling in and talking.

“Can you let go please, that shoulder is quite sore.” Aarni whispered.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said back, a little too loud as she let go of him.

“Is that you Thyra?” someone called from the other side.

“What are you doing over there?” came another voice.

The guard blushed, “Just checking the spring.” She said, putting her finger to her lips, letting Aarni know to be quiet.

“Come join us, we are about to have some fun.” The first voice called, with giggles coming from another voice.

“Isn’t the Goddess’s pool off limits now Thyra?”

“Yeah, there’s a guest in the Abbey.” Thyra replied

“I heard it’s a man.”

“No way, they’d never allow it.”

“No, that’s why they shut down the pool, so the man can use it.”

“Maybe that’s why Thyra’s over there, Hey Thyra, are you over there with a man?”

The ladies were giggling, enjoying teasing Thyra, whose face was now bright red.

“Oh my Goddess, are you really with the man Thyra?” The giggling stopped.

“No, of course not.” Came Thyra’s unconvincing reply.

“She totally is,” the voice was quieter, and the giggling stopped.

“Is he hot?” One voice called, and the giggling returned.

“Ari, I can’t believe you’d say that.”

“What? We don’t ever get to see men here, let alone in the spring.”

Aarni felt bad for Thyra, her face was bright red and she was fully unable to speak. He felt awful for her, but was afraid to speak himself.

“Is he using the spring?” One of the voices blurted out, the implication dawning on the group.

Aarni decided it was best to try and get out of the situation, and did his best to silently leave the pool.

“Thyra, what is going on over there!” One voice demanded.

“I’m . . . I. . . Nothing is happening.” Thyra stammered, in no way convincing.

“I’m coming over there.” Said one voice, the teasing and fun had turned to concern, and Aarni hurried out of the pool.

“No, you can’t.” Thyra said, but from the footsteps, her friends weren’t listening.

Aarni went to the door to go inside, Thyra was frozen.

“Oh Goddess, kill me now.” She said. Aarni felt sorry for her, he had no doubt she could face down an invading army, her **** imminent, and handle it better than she was handling the embarrassment of this moment. He hurried into the small room and did his best to pull his pants on. He was soaking wet, and with no time to dry, his pants stuck to his legs.

“What is going on in here.” A voice demanded as the door to the Abbey opened, and in stepped a tall, muscular woman with flame red hair wearing nothing but a thin robe that, due to being wet, was largely see through.

Aarni froze, his pants only up to his thighs. Thyra had made it in the room behind him, but was also frozen.

“Oh my. . .” came a second voice, the speaker southern and stunningly beautiful, especially when her wet robe was clinging to her body like that.

The third woman pushed her way in.

“Thyra!” she blurted.

“Close the door,” the first woman commanded. The three ladies came all the way in and secured the door, the third one latching it from inside.

“Now explain yourself man.” Said the first lady, revealing a dagger and pointing it at Aarni.

“Liv, stop, he didn’t do anything, I was just embarrassed.” Thyra said, putting herself between Aarni and the dagger.

“Then why are his pants down?” the third woman asked, she also had the dark hair and olive skin of southern birth, she was tall and thin, taller than Aarni, and the robe she wore came up high on her thighs, her skin glistening.

Aarni was a little scared, but the situation was more exciting than scary, and his penis was responding accordingly. He tried again to pull his pants up, but they were stuck to his legs, he’d need to take them off and dry off to get them properly on.

“He was using the spring, I am guarding him.” Thyra stated.

“Lucky girl.” The second lady muttered.

“Look at him.” The third shouted, pointing at his crotch, his erection no longer hideable.