Sharon was running, out of breath. She didn't know who, when, or where she was. She just ran. Her legs were at full speed. Suddenly she was in a clearing. The sun shone through the trees, and she wasn't running anymore. Her breath was back, as if she had never run. She felt happy, at peace. The sky darkened, and that feeling fade away, replaced by a sense of fear. She heard a sound behind her, and quickly turned around, ready to run. A man was coming out from the darkness of the trees. He had shhort and brown hair, and piercing blue eyes. A smile was inmprinted on his pale lips. Timo. In a split second, he was holding Sharon's hands, making her body arch.

"What are you-"

He muted her with a cloth. He had an evil grin on his face. Still holding her, he slowly put his other hand behind him and took out something silver. Glistening. Sharp. Deadly.

Sharon sat up in her bed, covered in cold sweat. Her breath was erratic, and her face wet from tears. She rubbed her swollen eyes. The young woman tried to steady her breath. After a few minutes she finally calmed down but she still couldn't sleep. She lit the candle on the side of her bed and got up, wobbling a little. She stayed where she was for a few seconds, getting her eyes adjusted to the sudden light. Breathing quietly, she walked slowly out of her room without a sound. She walked down the corridoor, looking behind her to check if anyone was following her. She didn't even know where she was going. She just.. Needed to think. Her desicion was made about the marriage, and she couldn't change it. But she still needed to think. About the consequences, and her feelings. Feelings? She had none. None for Timo, but... No, don't think about it. Don't think about her. Well, of course she did. She always thought about her. In the morning, and before going to sleep. When she was there, Sharon could barely taker her eyes off her. She didn't know how it was possible. That burning feeling, directed to... a girl. That burning feeling they call... love. No, it was unthinkable. She couldn't love a girl. It was something else, but she didn't know what. Walking along the corridoors, she eventually decided to go to the gardens, her quiet place. It was the summer, so she would be a little cold but not too much.

She reached the gardens after a few minutes of walking and a lot of thinking. She sat down on a bench and sighed. The night birds were out, and Sharon could hear howls hooting in the silence. The sounds somehow made her relax, as if they protected her from any harm. That though quickly disappeared as she heard a sound further away. She quickly blew out the candle and got up, her heart pounding in her chest.

"It's okay, it's me..."

The voice was familiar. Too familiar. Sharon tensed, and her breath quickened.

"Oh... Hello." she said, trying to sound relaxed.

She sat back down, and Tarja sat just a few centimetres from her. Foor the first time since they had met, Sharon felt really uneasy, and it was quite obvious. She swallowed nervously. After a few minutes, Tarja suddenly hugged her.

"It's going to be okay Sharon." she whispered into her ear. "I know my brother, he will be kind to you. You'll be okay."

Overwhelmed by a mixture of confusion and stress, Sharon sobbed.

"Shhh... Shhh..."

Tarja stroked her back, whilst Sharon cried on her shoulder. How did this woman know exactly what to say? She hadn't asked what was wrong, because obviously Sharon wouldn't have wanted to talk about it. She hadn't tried to distract her either, it wouldn't have worked and they would have been even more uneasy. No, she just hugged her and whispered some soothing words. How did she do that? How did she make her feel so special...?

"I'm sorry..." Sharon whispered in between loud breaths.

Tarja stayed quiet, and continued to stroke her back. there was nothing more to say. Sharon had wanted to tell her what she had chosen, but apparently Tarja already knew.

Sharon had gone back to bed later in the night, and she had cried herself to sleep. She didn't often do that. She was, in general, a tough woman, and didn't show her feelings to anyone. Tarja did something to her. Changed her in a manner she would never have expected. She had never met anyone like that before. When she was finally asleep, she didn't dream again, or at least she didn't remember her dreams in the morning. She got up, feeling much better though she had butterflies in herstomach. Today, she was going to talk to Timo and her father. As usual Sophie came to get her up and help her dress up. The whole, time, Sharon was completely silent, almost absent; Sophie, luckily, didn't ask any questions. She just helped her lady, and they both made a silent agreement to not talk about what had happened. When they were done, and Sharon felt beautiful enough - she didn't want to dress up for him but she had to - the two women went to Timo's room where Sophie left to see the other maids. After taking a deep breath, Sharon knocked loudly. There was no answer. Sharon bit her lip and considered quickly leaging when a voice resounded through the door.

"Yes, come in."

Sharon slowly opened the door. She didn't know what to say, but he knew exactly what he was going to say.

"Hello my lady, don't you look ravishing today?" He smiled sweetly at her. "in what honor have you come to see me this morning?"

Sharon swallowed painfully.

"My lord, I... (She cleared her throat.) I need to speak with you."

Timo walked to her and stroked her cheek with his finger.

"Of course, my little hummingbird. anything you desire." He spoke tenderly, with a voice that was almost hypnotising.

He knew exactly what he was doing, and so did she. He was seducing her, but to no avail. Sharon tried to restrain herself from shivering under his stroke. She turned away from him and walked, knowing he'd follow her. She walked outside once more, but not the same place as the night before. No, she would have thought back and been incapable of telling him. She would have thought of Tarja. When they were outside, she turned back to him and saw his smirk. "My lord, I have thought about your proposal. (His eyes shone brightly, and he still wore the same smirk.) And I have decided." She breathed in. "Yes. I will be your wife."

Timo looked at her passionately, but she could see something else in his eyes. Something that ressembled... Hunger. Hunger for power, and domination. She was suddenly scared, but managed to hide it. she hid her shaking hands behind her back.

"I knew you would soon accept... Sharon." He whispered in her ear. He then removed a strand of her dark hair from her face and cupped her face between his hands. He slowly leaned in. Sharon, revolted, took a step back and turned around. Timo chuckled.

"You'll get used to it." He smirked, then walked away, leaving Sharon alone, scared and cold inside.

The bow smoothly stroked the delicate strings, making a high-pitched pleasant sound. More notes. All combined, they formed music. Sharon's eyes were closed as she played to get some problems off her mind. It was quite effective, as she had to concentrate to play. Feeling a pair of eyes on her, she stopped and opened her eyes. She couldn't see anyone. Odd.

"It's so beautiful..." a voice said.

Sharon jumped, almost letting go of her violin.

"Tarja! You scared me, don't creep up on me like that..." she sighed in relief.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to..." Tarja murmured, biting her lip.

"It's-it's fine... Did you want something?" Sharon asked.

"Not really, I just really enjoy listening to you playing." The woman smiled.

Sharon smiled back, a sincere smile this time. She wanted to stay with Tarja some time, and tell her everything. Tell her about her problems, whatever was going through her mind. They both sat on what Sharon now called "their" bench, and Sharon told her. Told her she had accepted, but she didn't love him, she knew she didn't. She had only done it for her father. At first she didn't want to tell Tarja about that desire she had seen in Timo's eyes but she just spurted out everything, almost forgetting Timo was Tarja's brother. By the time she was finished, her scared feeling had come back, and she was cold inside. Tarja had listened the whole time, and without realising, had placed a hand on Sharon's lap. Sharon looked down at the hand, and didn't know what to think.

Suddenly she felt delicate fingers on her chin, and an unknown tatse on her lips. Her heart beat faster when she realised that unfamiliar tase was Tarja's lips on hers. This was it. This was what she had been feeling for the past days, that had seemed like centuries. Love. Love, for Tarja. Sharon felt like her heart was being shred into pieces. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her. Tarja eventually broke the kiss, wiping the tears from Sharon's cheeks.

"I love you."