Disclaimer: All characters belong to Kristen Cashore.

Katsa stood at the cliff edge. She watched the elegant seabirds, white specks in the distance, twirl through the sky in an undulating dance. The wind ran it's fingers through her hair and tickled her cheeks. A smile crept across her face. She was truly happy here, at Po's castle. It was calm, and peaceful. When she wasn't fighting or engaging Po in other physical activities, that is. The smile turned into a grin.

Her eyes flicked down at the clear blue water before her. Her keen eyesight could detect no large rocks close to the surface, and though it was windy, the ocean was fairly calm. It was a warm day, and the sun shone cheerfully. She felt so free. Katsa pulled off her boots, giving into the temptation. She took three steps back. A quick glance over her shoulder made sure no one was approaching her. The three steps went quickly, and then her foot was on the edge, propelling her body out into the open air.

The earlier teasing wind ecstatically swirled around her bare feet and ripped through her clothes with no abandon. Katsa felt it tear a half fearful, half joyous cry from her throat before she smashed into the water. Though the day was warm, the water was still chilly, and she came up gasping, partly from cold, partly from the exhilaration. Katsa began swimming toward the beach which was covered in strange black sand. She let the waves carry her body in, the adrenaline rush leaving her peaceful.

The old gate creaked as she pushed it open and crept into Po's garden, not sure what to expect. She found him sitting in an old swinging bench between two blooming apple trees. He was whittling something from wood, she noticed, just as he glanced up at her. Po took in her growing hair plastered to her forehead, soaking clothes, and sand-covered feet.

"Goodness, Katsa. Feel a sudden need to go swim with the dolphins? You said you were just going for a walk."

Katsa felt a laugh bubble to the surface. "I was planning on just taking a walk. But…it was all just so perfect, the sun and the sea and the wind. I don't know why I jumped. I've never really done silly things like that before. I guess I never had the time." By now, a slight frown had entered her voice.

Po smiled at her gently. "No, I guess you didn't. Everybody has to do things without reason now and again. No fun and all work is for a miserable life. Sometimes you just need to."

She wasn't mollified. "But what if I always need too?"

"Don't be silly, Katsa. The sea won't call to you every day. In fact, it will glower and rage and scream at you some days. Some days you won't want to set a foot in it, much less get within a hundred feet of it. Are you up to a fight, or do you need to go answer the call of the sea again?" he teased.

"Alright. Just let me change my clothes. I'm slippery as one of your fish and it gives me an unfair advantage."

In a way, Katsa thought as she walked to her room, she was living a childhood she had never had. No responsibilities, only things she wanted to do. Not only was she raised as a lady, she was also raised with the burden of her grace, both which didn't allot for a fulfilling childhood. For the first time in her life, Katsa had no burdens forever pressing down upon her. Randa was far away in his castle, Po's grandfather in the King's City of Liend, and Bitterblue imposing her rule on the mountains of Monsea. Truth be told, it was a strange feeling, almost unbearably light at times. She worried once she experienced it, she would never want to go back to being held responsible. But now, she needed to change so she could grapple with Po.

After Katsa rinsed herself off with a pitcher of water from her room, dissolving the sea salt which had already began to crust on her hair and skin, she put on her simple fighting clothes and met Po in the courtyard off the barn.

His castle didn't a training yard like Randa's did. Here in Liend, though, the weather was almost always fair, and they could fight outside on the packed dirt.

Po was waiting for her, clothed similarly to herself, and with a grin of anticipation on his face. They had been practicing exercises where both were hindered from using their greatest assets. Po could only use one of his hands, and Katsa had to stay standing in one spot. She often got exasperated by the fact that she was unable to move, it was frustrating to have Po dance around her and not reach out get him.

"Are you ready, wildcat?"

"Ready when you are, princeling." She could hear the slight mockery in her playful voice.

Katsa stood in the middle of the courtyard, in a small imaginary square in the center. Po sauntered up to her, and began walking around her. After he completed his second circle, he threw a punch at her head.

Katsa ducked. Her leg shot out to try and kick his out from under him, but he was too quick and jumped up. She aimed to punch his stomach, but only succeeded in doing so once before he twisted away. He tried to kick her back, but Katsa grabbed onto his foot, and yanked. The hand that he could use came up and to a hold of her wrist, and yanked harder.

She let go, and pulled her hand out of his grip. He was too strong for her, he could easily knock her off balance. Katsa aimed a kick at his upper thigh, while blocking a punch to the ribs. In a step, he was behind her, and his arm came around her shoulders and pulled her down onto the ground.

Then Katsa was beneath him. She aimed a punch at his shoulder, but Po grunted and held on. She rolled on top of him after punching his shoulder twich again, punching at his chest, but his arm wrapped around her again. This time, he lay on top of her, her arms pinned beneath her and his weight. Every time she made an attempt to get out, his grace could sense it.

Katsa could have easily smashed her head into his face, but that wasn't the point of this session. He had bested her, and she would do best to admit it.

"Forfeit. I admit defeat."

Po rolled off her, grinning. He sat in the dirt next to her as she sat up. His hand reached out to cup her face.

"You know, Katsa, this wrestling has put me in mind of something else."

Katsa licked her bottom lip. "And what might that be?"

His eyes, always at odds but somehow harmonious glowed at her. He leaned in…

"Prince Po! Prince Po! An urgent message from the king!"

Writing a love scene in the first chapter would be no good...this story isn't going to be completely about sappy loveydovey things, you know!

Read and Review, please!