CHAPTER TWO

As soon as the boy's eye's landed on Mist and Tara their mouth's fell open but not a sound came out. "Well I think this is the first time you have ever made Ronan and his pals speechless." Mist said to Tara who was standing right beside Mist. Tara shook her head with a little laugh, "Their not looking at me." She said slightly hurt that Ronan was staring at Mist and not her but she knew that Mist did look beautiful so she ignored her hurt and put on a smile. Mist looked at the boys then back at Tara before looking back at the boys when realization set in. Mist put her one fist on her hip and started tapping her foot, "I know you guys aren't staring at me." She all but snarled at the guys. Tara couldn't help but giggle as the guys immediately closed their mouths and turned around, fear on their faces. They knew what Mist could do when she got angry, only Ronan stayed facing the two girls.

Mist raised an eyebrow at Ronan who managed to shut his gaping mouth, although he was blushing heavily. This confused Mist, who turned to Tara confused about why Ronan would be blushing…unless. Mist mentally smacked herself in the head, "Of course! Ronan must have a crush on Tara!" Mist thought. "Why do I feel sad about that?" Mist wondered as she felt her heart drop a little at the thought of Ronan liking Tara. Mist shrugged off her sadness and pasted on a smile, giving Tara a nudge towards Ronan while Mist took a step back. "Hey guys I need your help for a second. Ronan stay with Tara and make sure the crowd doesn't trample her." Mist said and turned leaping away the four other guys followed her after giving each other a questioning look.

Mist thought of something that she would actually need the four guys for when she had a great idea. She stopped onto of a tree branch and waited for the four guys to catch up with her, when they had she told them what she had in mind. "Okay here's the deal, I want to go mouse riding, and I need you four to distract the mouse from me and each other so I can hop on it's back. Rui, Lucas I need you two to get the thickest and longest rope we have. Chi and Tomas I need you two to distract it from me while I hop on it's back. When I'm on its' back I need the four of you to grab it's whiskers so it will rear up on it's back legs. When it does that Rui and Lucas you let go of your whiskers and wrap the cord around it's throat and give me the ends of the rope. Ok." Mist said excitedly.

Rui, Chi, Lucas and Tomas gave each other a look then looked back at Mist. Chi was nudged to the front of the others and he nervously said, "Well first wouldn't it be better if you changed clothes?" Mist gave him a questioning glance then remembered that she was wearing a dress, which she promptly cut off just below the waist. "There now I'm changed. You guys ready to go?" Mist asked. The guys nodded, becoming more comfortable seeing Mist in her usual clothes.

By the time Mist got home the sun was already rising again her and Chi, Lucas, Tomas and Rui were covered in mud but laughing they had all managed to ride the mouse several times before it bit through the rope and had come after them. "I'll see you guys at the tavern at mid-day." Mist said cheerfully waving goodbye to her four friends, who hollered their agreements and goodbyes as they all split and went to their respective homes.

Mist crept silently into her house which she shared with Tara, not wanting to wake Tara up. It was only after Mist had showered and changed clothes and was on her way to bed when she realized that Tara was usually already up. Mist peeked into Tara's room wanting to make sure that she wasn't sick and was surprised to find the bed empty and it didn't look like it had been slept in at all.

Worried Mist went to leave and ran into Ronan who was just about to knock on her door. "Hey Ronan, do you know where Tara is? She's not in her room and it doesn't look like her beds been slept in." Mist said. Ronan nodded looking kind of worried as well as excited, "I know where Tara is, but Mist you might want to sit down first okay?" He said. Mist rose and eyebrow at him, "I'm not faint of heart where is she?" Mist demanded. Then her eye's widened as a thought hit her, "Did the bog men attack us? Was she hurt? Tell me the truth Ronan!." Mist demanded the thought of Tara being hurt making her want to go on a bog man killing spree. "No calm down Mist. We weren't attacked last night. The thing is Tara isn't here because she's been chosen as the next Queen." Ronan said.

Mist was surprised and took a step back, unsure of how to react to this news. Happiness for her friend finally pulled through and Mist smiled, "That's great. I'll go congratulate her." Mist said happily turning to shut her house door. "Mist no-ones allowed to see her right now, she's being trained, however the Older Counsel wants to see you right away." Ronan said. From directly behind Mist, surprised at the closeness of Ronan's voice Mist twirled around. Ronan's face was only inches from her own, surprising Mist, and from the look in Ronan's eye's it surprised him to.

Then to Mist surprise, Ronan didn't back up instead he leaned forward and his lips touched hers. For the first time in her life, Mist didn't move. She was to shocked to do anything but stand there, Ronan wrapped his arms around her and tried to get her to respond. Then Mist's mind went blank and all she could feel was Ronan's lips on her own and his arm wrapped around her waist while his other tangled in her hair. Mist responded and took control of the kiss deepening it, changing positions so he was the one up against the door, which opened at the pressure against it.

Mist felt Ronan falling and broke the kiss twirling them around again so Mist's back hit the floor while Ronan got the softer landing falling on top of her. They looked at each other with surprise and then they begin to laugh, Ronan rolled off and stood up offering Mist his hand. She took it and stood up as well, before a question popped into her mind and out of her mouth before she could stop it. "Why did you kiss me? I thought you had a crush on Tara?" Mist said. Ronan looked surprised and he blushed, "I never had a crush on Tara it was always you. I like you Mist, in fact…I think…Im in love with you." Ronan said.