Yuno stood outside the line of tents that made their camp. Zealot was once again pressuring her to return to their child. She had to get away and clear her head. She wouldn't know if she made the right decision until this war was over. Her heart was being pulled in too many directions.

The smell of smoke hung in the air from the night's camp fires. It was a harsh winter, even more so with the war going on. The cold wind made her shiver and she regretted storming out of the tent without warmer clothes.

"Lady Yuno?" Yuno turned to see Noah. He was wrapped in Ilian furs and had a worried look. "What are you doing out in the cold?"

Yuno smiled the best she could without seeming uncomfortable. "I just needed to clear my head."

Noah put his furs around Juno and rubbed her arms. "In weather like this? Let's get you back inside."

Yuno resisted. "I'm fine." She wrapped the furs around herself tightly secretly happy for the warmth. "I'm surprised you care this much, Noah." It wasn't unlike Noah to keep to himself and wear a scowl.

Noah frowned, not picking up on Yuno's playful tone. "I'm not so antisocial."

"So serious, Noah. I was only kidding." Noah didn't smile. "I know you have a kind heart, so why do you seem so uncaring on the outside?" She searched his eyes for some sort of connection.

They stood in silence for what seemed like forever until his voice cracked trying to speak.

"I…I'm not strong enough yet." He turned to hide his face. Yuno didn't realize he was so troubled.

Yuno reached for his arm like she would her younger sisters when they needed her comfort. "My husband doesn't trust in those he doesn't believe are strong."

Noah met her eyes. "How do you let people in with the possibility of losing them? Our own people, some of them friends, joined Bern. Some are dead by my sword, my hand." He held them up as if they were apart from him, another entity that had a mind of its own. Yuno just stared intently at him. She found herself asking the same thing as a young Pegasus knight of Ilia. When your family is poor you will take any job to survive. That's when it gets complicated.

Yuno put Noah's arms down gently and took his hands. "War is painful and it leaves scars. I am broken, we all are, but it helps to let people in to mend those cracks. Relationships aren't all bad."

Noah smiled meekly. "I think I understand why Zealot fights so fiercely."

Yuno smiled as she gave Noah back his furs. "I wouldn't hold back anymore if I were you. You might lose her."

Noah flushed. "Her?"

Yuno walked past him toward her tent. "I see the way you look at that girl you train with. She's lovely."

Noah scratched his head embarrassed. "Have a good night, Lady Yuno."

Yuno found her way back to the tent to find Zealot sleeping. She got down beside him and kissed his neck softly. "I love you." She whispered.

He turned around to face her and held her close. "I'm sorry about earlier. I love you too."