(Ronin's P.O.V.)

-Flashback-

"Oh come on, Ronin!"Tara says. "It's still early, and I missed flying! So please?"she pleads.

"Tara, Boggans might be around and you're the new queen,"I say.

"Oh come on! You aren't any fun,"she complains.

"Tara..."I trail off.

"Just admit it, you wanna race,"she says, poking me.

"Fine. Just one...little race. But don't blame me if the general kills us,"I say.

"Wooo! Now the second-in-command's not so serious! Race ya to Nim's!"she says, running towards her bird.

"Hey! You had a head start!"I shout after her, doing the same. She just laughs. I can't help but think that she's so hard to hate and so easy to love. She's sweet, kind and friendly. I want to start a relationship with her but I can't. She's a queen, but I'm just a leafman.

"Come on, slowpoke!"she shouts. I urged my bird, Fid, to go faster.

"You just had a head start!"I shout back.

We arrived at Nim's tree. Sadly, Tara won. She's really happy about it.

"Hah! Beat that!"she teases, poking me.

"One day, I will,"I mutter. She laughs.

"Um, Ronin, sometimes I think about us. I mean, in the future. If things would be the same. Me being queen after all,"she says.

"Tara, things might be different in the future when we get older, but same in a way,"I tell her.

"Like what?"she asks.

"Like...even though we will be more mature, my feelings for you won't be erased,"I tell her.

"Ronin...I have feelings for you too, but I'm a queen. And queens shouldn't have relatuonships,"she says.

"I know. I mean, when somebody else becomes queen,"I tell her.

"What if I die or something?"she asks.

"Tara, I promise to protect you, no matter what."

-End of flashback-

I broke that promise when Mandrake's arrow hit her. Resulting to her death. I miss her. I can't forget her. Even though there are many women here in Moonhaven that wish for me, I can't replace her. 'Smile, Ronin,'I remember her voice. Then I decide to be my usual self even though she's gone. Somebody needs me. A stubborn teenager that I didn't hesitate to take care of. Then I wonder, what if Nod grows up? I smile, I can't imagine him being mature.

I remember her last words before she transferred the forest's spirit onto the new queen. 'There's that smile.'