Karigan was thrilled to hear that Alton was returning to the castle for a short visit to report to the King and the Captain about how things with the wall were progressing. Maybe this time she could find out the reason why he had looked upon her with so much loathing over their brief meeting during the summer after the problems with the wall. There were no words to explain the breech between their friendship and she wanted nothing more then to repair it.

The weapons kept a nice distance from them as King Zachary and Lady Estora strolled among the gardens. Zachary knew that Estora has always enjoyed the peace and tranquility of this area and so he had invited her to join him on this lovely afternoon. It had been awkward for the pair but Zachary decided that they should at least get use to being in each other's company before being shoved into more uncomfortable ones. Estora had agreed and they had spent a nice day out so far. She had talked and answered questions when posed to her and she even asked some of her own but he felt the slight tension and knew that this was a marriage of paper and little else. A few terriers followed them as they walked sniffing here and there and enjoying the time outside the castle and their kennels.

"Your dogs seem to be enjoying themselves." Estora asked with a chuckle as she watched the dogs happily romp among the bushes and flowers. The gardeners would not be too happy. Zachary couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, it's not often that we get to enjoy a beautiful day like this outside. Besides that they also enjoy when we go out hunting, which of course we very rarely get to do. There is usually only time on our yearly hunting trip though I doubt you care to hear about that." He smiled graciously at her and she returned it briefly and gave a nonchalant shrug.

"It does not bother me, I have never done hunting myself but I have gone on day long rides."

He was just about to ask her another question, try to get something about her when his eyes caught a pair of figures in green. Alton D'Yer was walking in front of Karigan who was struggling to reach him and call out to him. When he finally decided to he turned it was with anger and a straight back. It was at this point that both Estora and the dogs followed his gaze and the dogs started barking and making a dash towards her. Zachary whistled and gave a call of "Come!" and they suddenly stopped but still looked towards her and whined. Both Estora and himself watched as Alton yelled words at her and then turned and walked away to leave a shocked and obviously hurt Karigan in his wake. It was at that moment that Zachary had a sudden desire to run to her and protect Karigan from anyone who would hurt her so.

"I hope that it as fight that they can resolve quickly." Estora's voice brought Zachary out of his own thoughts and turned to her blinking.

"You know Karigan?"

"Of course! We have become fast friends since she swore in as a Green Rider. I know that she and Alton were" she paused for a moment as if considering something and then continued "…friends"

Zachary blinked and looked down to Estora and blinked "Just friends?" He was suddenly nervous and knew that he would not like her answer.

"It is not my place to say anything of anyone's private affairs."

"Of course" Zachary answered quickly but he suddenly knew why she had returned the mirror to him, Karigan already loved someone else. He pulled off smiles and was able to get through the afternoon with Estora, but barely.

She had finally caught up to him as he was walking out of the stables but the sight of him cut her to the heart. When his eyes finally realized her presence she was devastated to see such utter hate for her that she unwillingly gasped. He looked at her for a few moments and then moved on as if she was nothing but an insignificant speck of dirt.

"Wait! Alton, please tell me what I did!"

Karigan ran to catch up to him and keep up with his brisk pace. He on the other hand looked straight forward and didn't even acknowledge her presence as if she wasn't even there. She finally was able to reach him and placed a hand on his shoulder but he pulled away and turned with such force that she backed up surprised and almost fearful.

"Never touch me again…" His voice was cold and his eyes narrowed as he looked at her face with nothing but loathing

"Not until you tell me what I did. I don't even know why you're angry with me." Karigan tried to reach out again and once more he pulled away.

"Don't know?" He gave off a laugh, but one that was sarcastic and full of anger, not his normal carefree one. "It was your song that broke the wall and you dare stand there and pretend you don't know! I did it because I loved you and you betrayed me…you are nothing but a worthless traitor. I never want to see or speak to you again Karigan G'ladheon." And with that Alton D'Yer turned and walked towards the castle without a backwards glance at her. Karigan felt as if he had physically slapped her.

After Alton's outburst Karigan had managed to make it to the castle and get through her endless papers but her mind couldn't help but dwell on his harsh words. How could she be a worthless traitor?! She had not done anything to him; especially teach him a song, let alone one that could break his ancestral wall. She moved silently down the rider's new wing passing by Alton's door and staring at it for a moment before turning her face away and finally moving past it and into the main hallways.

It was quiet, dark, and fitting for her mood. As she took each step in a random path among the corridors she couldn't help but think that her life was more complicated that it would ever be if she had just become a merchant like she wanted. Yet she knew with a surety that her desired life was dead, and the mirror of the moon proved it.

Falling into the closest bench Karigan couldn't help but let a tear fall down her face and into the floor.

"You could have said something…"The voice was hesitant and almost hurt. Karigan looked up suddenly wiping the tears from her eye and gasped when she realized it was none other than the King. Standing suddenly she blinked at him in utter confusion.

"Said something?" Her voice was hesitant and confused.

He looked away from her for a moment and then back to her face meeting her eyes head on. "Yes, you could have just said that you were in love with Alton and I would have understood."

It took Karigan and few seconds to understand what he was talking about and when she remembered she was so shocked that she could do nothing but stare at him for a moment. What came next was anger.

"How dare you…" She moved to stand in front of him, her famous G'ladheon ire catching up to her, and in her anger she forgot that she was speaking to the King. "It is none of your concern what I feel. Who are you to think that you know who I am in love with?"

"I should have known that it was him you cared for. And then Estora-"

"You're talking to your fiancée about me!" Their voices were steadily rising and the weapons that had previously been in the shadows were moving towards the king.

"Sire, you and Rider G'ladheon might want to lower your voices or move somewhere more secret…" The pair glanced at the weapon and Karigan turned to walk away when the king grabbed her arm. Before she was able to pull it from his grasp he asked quietly.

"Are you in love with him?" His voice regained its soft and hurt expression. Meeting his eyes she could see the fear showing through, fear that she would say yes.

"No." And with that she pulled her arm from his grip and turned towards her own rooms leaving him to his nightly wanderings.

Karigan had an alarmingly small amount of sleep that night and when she finally had to get up to meet the captain for her new assignments she could feel the bags under her eyes. She was looking forward to her next assignment because it would mean that she could get away from both Alton D'Yer and the King.

"Come in Karigan"

She smiled and pushed the door open to see Captain Moonstone diligently working on different papers across the desk. Her left hand pushed a small group of papers to the left corner of her desk as she looked up to Karigan and blinked.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just didn't sleep all that well last night. Where am I going?" The captain looked at her carefully for a few moments before looking away.

"Not too far on this run. It should be a nice and easy run, but with you Karigan we can never be sure of that" The captain looked up at her smiling for a few moments before turning back to the papers that lie all over the place "And make sure your weekly ledgers are finished as well."

"Yes Captain, I will have them by the end of the day in preparation to leave tomorrow morning."

"Great, have a nice run Karigan and let me know if anything strange happens."

That's all I have for now…love it? Hate it? Should I just give up on trying to write green rider fanfic? Let me know…I promise that adventure and excitement will be coming up next chapter if ya guys want me to continue. Let me know….Steph