Yay I updated! Enjoy! (I'm so sorry; heads up to my Jara babes: major heartbreak, and not just for the characters.)

Jerome knocked gently on Mara's bedroom door. She was leaving this morning, and he wanted to say goodbye and hold her and kiss her one last time, even if it would kill him. When she didn't answer, he hesitantly pushed the door open. And to his dismay, the room was empty. The bed was made and the books were put back in place and there was no sign of Mara anywhere.

Suspicious, went to the wardrobe. Inside all of the dresses that had been given to Mara were hung up and organized by color, and the dress she had been wearing when they first met wasn't there. He left the room hurriedly and pounded on Eddie's bedroom door.

A few minutes later, his cousin opened the door; dirty-blonde hair mussed up from sleeping, green eyes cloudy. "What are you doing, banging on my door before lunch?" he snapped.

"Where's Mara?" Jerome demanded.

"In her room," he suggested tiredly. "No human should be awake at this hour."

"She's not there. I wanted to see her before she left, but—"

"She's leaving?" he questioned, now fully awake.

"I think she already left."

"Hold on, let me get dressed, we'll go look for her." he said as he reentered his bedroom and Jerome followed, closing the door behind him.

He leant back on it and blew out a long breath. Where could she have gone?

Mara sat down in the chair before the captain's desk. The man smiled at her. His brown hair was nicely brushed and his blue eyes sparkled happily at the sight of the princess he had watch grow into a beautiful young woman. She would make a marvelous queen one day.

"I'm glad you're okay, princess."

"Thank you for coming to get me, Robert, but you didn't have to pick me up so soon. I was welcome back at the castle and I—"

"You're highness, if I may?" he cut in and she nodded approval. "Your father is sick. We don't know how much time he has left."

Mara frowned and stood slowly, taking charge immediately, just like her father had taught her at a young age. "I need you to get me back home as soon as possible."

Jerome coughed, sliding off the saddle and ran a hand through his hair. He could see a tiny dot on the horizon. That was the ship; the one that was carrying Mara. He cursed under his breath.

"I'm sorry, mate—" Eddie whispered and jumped when Jerome spat at him,

"You're sorry? She's gone and all you have to say is 'sorry'. I…I love her. And while you're chasing a girl that isn't worth your time, I'll be getting married to a girl that I don't even care about. I don't care what you say about that maid, but she is nothing but a useless gold hunter that'll throw you to the side when she's finished."

Eddie's eyes hardened. He hopped off his horse and stepped up to Jerome, fisting his tunic in his hand. "You want me to punch you, huh? I've never said anything horrible about Mara and now you're insulting Patricia. Shut up. You are just upset." He said slowly.

"Leave me alone," he sneered, jerking out of his grip. He mounted his horse and galloped away from the dock, leaving Eddie to glare after him.

Eddie shook his head. He knew that Jerome said things that he didn't mean, but it still hurt. But he knew that Patricia wasn't like that. He rubbed the back of his neck and turned away from his fleeting cousin. He just needed some time alone.

Jerome angrily dragged his fingers through his hair and sat down on the rocks as the rushing river blurred past him. He blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears out of his eyes. He tried taking deep breath; he tried to feel his heart again, but he was losing all feeling. Mara was gone, and she wasn't coming back. She was right; it hurt him when she left, and it hurt her. His heart had broken.

He looked up when he felt a pair of eyes on him and he turned around. A young woman stood there silently, hands clasped in front of her innocently. Her hair was long, brown and curly. Her eyes were brown as well, but nowhere as beautiful as Mara's. She was short and thin and wore a blue dress with silver stitching. She smiled at him.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly.

Jerome stood slowly. She was beautiful. "I'm just a little upset."

She held his gaze and stepped closer to him until they were a foot apart. "Is there any way I can help you?"

Jerome shook his head and she tilted her head curiously, placing a hand on his shoulder in a comforting way. He let her pull his head down to hers and press her lips to his. Lust and pain and anger clouded his brain and his arms wrapped around the stranger, pulling her into his chest as his tongue slid across her bottom lip, asking for entrance. She granted his request immediately. Jerome lifted her off the ground and she moaned into his mouth as his brain became foggier and foggier with each passing second. And suddenly, all feeling was lost.

Ew. Sorry...I had to include that. You'll understand why in the next chapter...I'm working on it right now! But please don't hate me for that! It was horrible for me too...

Review?

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. -Proverbs 21:3

-Rachel