The two shared a beautiful summer together. Though, Siegfried grew more anxious by the day, yet Siela grew more excited. Their playful jousting became intense training. Siegfried was preparing for his enlistment, the enlistment which was entirely against his will. At the end of each day, he would bid his fair maiden adieu, but would never utter the word 'goodbye.' It was either 'see you tomorrow' or 'goodnight.' He did not want to face the impending misery of leaving his beloved Siela.

Siela, on the other hand, was counting down the days until her beloved would gain intense power. Grateful of the fact that Siegfried was the son of a commander and therefore would enlist much higher than a mere soldier, perhaps a general, she was excited about their future. She would never express the excitement to Siegfried, of course, for sake of unhurt feelings. She simply grew more impatient as the days seemed to slow to an almost standstill.

One warm night, or morning, rather, Siela had just finished brushing her medium-length blond hair when she heard the sound of something small hit the window. At first, she ignored it as a simple acorn falling from the oak tree which stood proudly outside her window. However, seconds later, she heard the sound of another "something" thrown harder at her window. This time, she decided to take a look a what sort of activity was taking place outside her window. When she brushed her mahogany curtain to the side and peered out. Down below, to her utter realization, was Siegfried, looking wonderful as always. But this time she could see anxiety surging through his body as he fidgetted and paced. She slowly and quietly opened her window. He paused and shot his face up to her.

"Siegfried, what are you doing? It must be three o'clock in the morning!" Siela loudly whispered down to him. He paced a little bit, shrugged, then replied:

"Come down here! I need to be with you!" She found it hard to resist his urgent plea for her company. She threw her sapphire-colored robe on over her white nighgown. Tiptoeing down the hall, careful not to awaken her fatheror any of the maids, she crept out the door which led to the gardens outside, where Siegfried was waiting, nervously. She approached him, yawning.

"What's wrong?" She asked. With a deeper look at his face she could tell it was drenched from tears he must have let escape for hours. She could tell it was something major. He was silent as more tears came.

"Siela...," he grabbed her into a tight embrace. She could hardly breath. Finally, he loosened his grip on her.

"Siegfried, what on earth...?"

"Mom died." He interrupted. Siela halted. Suddenly the world fell and crashed into a thousand pieces. Siegfried's mother meant the world to both of them. When Siela's mother passed, she stepped in and tended to Siela. Siela saw her, not ever as a replacement, but a helpful stand-in...And now she was gone. Siegfried could never be the same without his mother. She was his guider, adviser, and protector. Siela held him close and allowed him to cry the last few tears he had left in his system. Once he could brush himself off and rejuvinate his sense, he took Siela's hand and led her to the lake. They sat with their feet in the water. Siela leaned her head on his shoulder and looked into the crystal, black waters. As it flowed, she recalled the first time she met Margaret Schtauffen when she was a little girl. She didn't think much of her at that stage of her life, which didn't say much as nothing really devoted itself to Siela's thoughts when she was nine. But even then, Margaret seemed to be a lovely person, physically and emotionally. Siela never imagined she'd be gone.

"It was an unknown illness. It...just took hold of her. It was...so sudden, Siela. I never knew I had to say goodbye..." Each word he spoke pierced his heart. Siela squeezed his hand. Though her own mother passed away years ago, Siela could not find the words she could say to mend this unyielding wound.

"Fight it, Siegfried." She muttered, though she wasn't postive what she meant by those words. He wrapped his arm around her, and looked to the sky. Siela stared up at her lover. She knew that she was the only person he could be this open to, now that his mother was gone.

The water became too cold on their feet so they moved to a nearby tree. With the darkness of the night calming them, they felt the warmth of sleep take hold of the two. They fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, they awoke to the sound of both their fathers calling for them. They scrambled for their clothes, which had mysteriously been torn off the previous night and put themselves back together. They stood a few extra inches apart than usual as the sound of their father's footsteps drew closer. The couple was spotted.

"Siegfried? Sielatira? What in heaven's name are you two doing out here?" Siela's father called. She knew he was worried because he used her full name, which was not a very common practice for him. Com. Schtauffen, Siela could tell, was feeling intense pain as he was uncharacteristically silent. Siela felt the pain bulge in her throat. Siegfried was hurting, Siela saw by his lack of response. Typically, he'd be the one to come up with some witting response.

"Siegfried needed a friend." Siela stated in a manner that seemed to radiate, 'If you think about saying anything to Siegfried, I'll break your neck in half.' The fathers backed off slightly.

"Siegfried, Frederick, why don't you stay with us for the rest of the day? We can have a few drinks and unwind a bit." Siela's father suggested. They all mosied in to the castle. It was a beautiful, sunny day, but the four of them felt empty and dark.