AN: As always this is pure fantasy. I do not own Hellboy or the characters within the series. I do however own my OC and any other made up characters in my story.

ENJOY!

~Twisty

Nuada watched as the elf human excused herself from the library. She seemed to be in a rush to get out of there, more than likely not wanting to continue with the conversation at hand. If Nuada were honest with himself, he was infuriated that such things happened to Aerith. He was practically beside himself in anger. These stupid, hollow creatures should have been wiped out a long time ago!

The other members in the room began to exit themselves. No one seemed willing to want to talk about Aerith's tale just yet. They were filled with sadness that she had to endure such things, though were unwilling to go to the girl herself to continue with the conversation. She seemed to not want anyone's pity. Nuada secretly admired that.

Nuala stayed behind watching her brother deep in thought. She knew what he was feeling. "Brother, do not let hate seep into your heart for the humans again. They are not all bad creatures."

Nuada looked at his sister "She was tortured Nuala. For ten days, she suffered at the hands of humans. Does that not deserve smite?"

Nuala gave a gentle sigh "Hate begets hate brother. There would be no end to any suffering if you were to go down that path again."

Nuada let out a soft sigh. "I do not know why she would continue to help them."

"Perhaps she had learned to forgive them. Perhaps she has seen the softer side of humanity and does not harbinger any ill will to them because of it. Her mother was human after all."

Nuada sat in thought again. The girl did not seem to hate the humans. She seemed to genuinely want to help them. "She is quite strange, isn't she?" asked Nuada.

Nuala's face brightened with a smile. She knew what her brother was feeling even if he did not know himself.

HBHBHBHBHBHBHB

Aerith had reached her room. The memories still fresh in her mind at the retelling of her story. She sat on her bed. Her hands in her lap as she looked down at them. She turned her hands over and looked at her palms remembering the day she had ended William's life. She had done everything to that man. She made him suffer to his last breath. She left him there when she was done like a piece of trash. To this day, over a thousand years later, it still haunted her. Her rage haunted her and now her past was catching up to her.

Who would be trying to get her attention now?

Aerith let out a sigh. It would do no good by dwelling on it. They would show themselves.

Her head shot up hearing a soft knock at her door. She slowly made her way to it. She stood in surprise seeing Prince Nuada standing in front of her. "How may I be of service to you Prince Nuada?"

"Will you join me in the training room dear Aerith?" He asked.

Aerith was more than a little surprised by the request but it was simple enough. She would be rude to deny it.

Aerith gave a smile and nodded.

HBHBHBHBHBHBHB

Nuada had left the library lost in much thought. His mind was on the halfling. The little creature perplexed him so. He found himself slowly admiring her more and more. Nuada was no stranger to affectionate feelings for another, as he felt love for his dear sister, but this was different. He found his mind wanting to erase the halfling's horrible past.

Somehow while he was deep in thought he found himself right outside her room door. He had followed her one day to see where she resided. Her room was quite far from his own which he found bothered him for a reason Nuada could not place. This is how he knew this was her door.

He lifted his hand to knock but stopped before actually knocking. What was he going to say? He felt he shouldn't bring up her tale as that could be saved for another time. His shoulders straightened finally and with confidence in his stance he knocked.

When Aerith opened the door, he noted the surprise in her eyes. Truthfully, he was surprised himself.

"How may I be of service to you Prince Nuada?" her soft voice rang in his ears.

"Will you join me in the training room dear Aerith?" the words tumbled out of his mouth even though his outer appearance seemed confident.

When she agreed, Nuada felt happy. Genuinely so. It truly was his own happiness and not that of his sister's, who he felt quite often as she had found her life mate.

Perhaps….

Before the thought could form the halfling had already gotten her staff and came out of her room. Nuada nodded to her, the two beginning to make their way down the hall.

HBHBHBHBHBHBHB

The silence between the two was anything but uncomfortable. Aerith found great solace in the silence. She glanced at him curiously though "Prince Nuada? Will you be using your spear?" she asked not having seen it on him.

Nuada shook his head. "No. I would like to do hand to hand combat this time. Are you comfortable with this Aerith?"

Aerith nodded. She would be in hand to hand combat with the prince? Something about this fact made her nervous. She knew how to fight hand to hand. Her troll friend saw to that when she lived in the wilds with him, but Prince Nuada was different. He was a warrior. He trained in all manner of battle and knew far better than her how to effectively take down an opponent in combat.

When they reached the training room, Aerith leaned her staff in a corner of the room. She watched Nuada as he took his place on the other side of the room getting in a stance. She got in her own. This was going to be interesting.

HBHBHBHBHBHBHB

Sweat dripped from both opponent's brow. They had not gone easy on each other. Their arms ached and their bodies were spent but neither gave up. Aerith swept her leg down only to have to prince jump over her. He made to punch her, however she blocked it. The two kept a spectacular display of flips and blocks going as they tried to best each other.

Nuada was quite impressed by the girl but he could tell she was getting far more tired than he was. She made to strike him but he turned out of the strike. Nuada pushed his body forward, backing Aerith into the nearest wall. His forearm of his right arm pressed against her neck while his left hand had quickly grabbed the wrist of her right hand, pinning it to the wall.

The two were breathing heavily as they stood there staring into each other's eyes. Nuada heard a small laugh escape Aerith's lips as she continued to breath heavily.

"It seems you have the upper hand again my prince." She said softly.

Nuada smiled softly and backed away from the halfling. "You did remarkably well Aerith."

Aerith's smile stayed on her face. "You will have to continue to teach me combat Prince Nuada." She said going to her staff that was still leaned on the wall. "Perhaps we can continue this tomorrow?" She asked. She gave a brighter smile when she received a nod from the prince. She turned and left the room.

Her body ached as she walked down the hall. She definitely would be sleeping well tonight.

Nuada watched as the halfling left. His mind lingered on her. He had been close to her, felt her soft skin on his own. The warmth radiating off of her had him stunned into silence. What was this sensation in his stomach? It was if many fluttering butterflies were floating around in there. He had never felt this before in his life and it certainly perplexed him.

He breathed in deeply to calm himself. Her scent; it still lingered in the air. She smelled of lavender and sweet berries to him.

The prince shook his head to clear his thoughts as he started to walk to his own room. These feelings that were growing for the girl were confusing to him.

Upon reaching his room, he went directly to the bathing room. His mind was still on the girl; how close they had been. He shifted uncomfortably as he felt a tightening in his lower region. He looked down. The most certainly hadn't happened in quite some time. Nuada let a deep breath out.

It seems he would be taking a cold shower today…

AN: A New Chapter! Yay! I had a bit of trouble getting this one out mainly because my mind and work schedule have been a jumbled mess here lately. Hope you enjoy!

~Twisty