"Damn it," Arra panted. It had been an extremely close fight, lasting nearly a half hour, but in the end Larten had prevailed. "You cheated," she glanced at Gavner.

"I did not tell him to do that," Larten said.

"Sorry," Gavner mumbled sheepishly, "but I only yelled cause I thought you were going to chop off his head!"

"Nah," Arra said, finally catching her breath. "Not today at least." Gavner looked horrified until she winked. "Joking."

"Now you owe me a favor," Larten smirked.

"I do. What'll it be?"

Larten thought for a moment. Gavner leaned against the railing, grinning. "How about," Larten said, tilting her chin up, "you spend a night with me?"

Arra's expression dropped for a moment. But she was back to normal so fast Gavner thought he must have imagined it. "Just one night? That's it?"

"Just one night."

"Fine," she said, keeping her voice even.

"Well then," Larten planted a kiss on her forehead, "I'll see you tonight."

"A- Arra," Larten stuttered when she arrived at his room that night. She blushed, looking at the ground. "I mean, you look pretty."

She was wearing shorts, and a tank top that exposed the upper half of her back. Her hair was up in the standard ponytail. Her bare feet barely made a noise as she walked closer to him. She hadn't looked him in the eyes yet, which Larten found a little odd. "I'm glad you're here," he smiled at her. Then, with one hand resting between her shoulder blades and the other on the side of her face, he pressed his lips to hers. She put her arms around him, but hesitantly. He was so absorbed in the kiss he didn't realize something was wrong until a tear slid down her face.

He broke the kiss, alarmed. "What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"I'm sorry," Arra said hastily, "I'm just a little out of practice." Larten furrowed his brow. What did she mean? "Just pretend nothing happened," she pressed her chest to his desperately, trying to cover up her mistake. "I've got it under control now. I won't be a nuisence."

"Arra," he said, a suspicion growing rapidly in his mind.

"I promise I won't interrupt again. I'm sorry." Her voice was getting thicker and more strained. He raised a hand to brush the tears off her face and she flinched. Larten stopped completely. "Please don't hurt me," she whispered, and he could feel his heart break for her. He pulled her close and hugged her.

"I'm so sorry I didn't clarify," he said hoarsely.

"What?"

"I don't want you over here for that. You don't have to do anything you don't want. In fact, if you want to go back to your room, you go."

"I don't... have to?" Arra looked confused. "Then why else did you want me here?"

"I just wanted to spend time with you. Talk, maybe kiss. Whatever you want. If you want to stay, that is. Why did you think..."

"Mr. I've-Long-Forgotten-His-Name needed money. Lucky for him I was young, naive, and didn't need to eat much. it was all I knew for nearly six months." There was silence. "I'm sorry. I- I've ruined the whole thing." Arra tried to surpress a shiver and failed.

"Here," Larten grabbed a thick, warm shirt (red of course), and put it around her shoulders. Sticking her arms through the sleeves, she smiled nervously. "Is that better?"

"Better," she confirmed, buttoning it up. She looked almost adorable in the overbig shirt, smaller than she usually did.

He grinned at her, placing a kiss on her forehead. "I know another way we could get warmed up," he said shyly.

"I'm listening," she responded cautiously.

He gently took her by the hand and led her over to his coffin. They sat down. "Are you going to stay?" Larten asked.

"Y-yes, I think I will." She moved closer to him, carefully climbing onto his lap and burying her face in his neck.

He lay down, pulling her along with him, and tugged the covers over them. Their legs intertwined comfortably. He put an arm around her and she snuggled closer to him, letting out a shaky sigh of releif. He kissed her gently. "Was this a good idea?"

"Yes," she murmured, "very good idea." Soon enough she dozed off in his arms, and he did the same a few minutes later, nose pressed against her hair.

"Oh, Arra. You know, you don't have to stay here for another night."

"I know," she smiled sheepishly. "I just kind of wanted to ask you if I could anyways. Unless you don't-"

He laughed, opening the door wider to let her in. "Of course you can if you want to."