Thanks for all the lovely reviews!

I'm so glad people liked the last chapter! I worried that she talked too soon, but it seemed to write itself that way.

I hope you all enjoy this installment!

Chapter 10

Rematch

Anna was feeling a little forlorn about her argument with Nuada. It wasn't exactly how she had pictured having her first conversation in almost 14 years. She just hoped that she hadn't damaged the fragile friendship they had slowly begun to forge.

Of course, Nuala had been insistent that her brother didn't hate Anna, but Anna wasn't so sure. She also wasn't sure what she could do to repair the damage. She could apologise, but she honestly didn't want to retract what she'd said. She knew humans had many failings, but they also had a lot of good in them. She also believed that Nuada's world had stood back and let things go from bad, to worse. She supposed she could try explaining what she meant, but she wasn't sure if she could fully articulate her thoughts. The only way she knew how to order her thoughts, was to write them down. So, that's what she did.

Nuada had spent most of the night thinking about what Anna had said to him. He was utterly loathe to admit it, but she did have a small point. They had kept themselves hidden, and not just his people, but also the whole Unseen community. The truce should have ensured that the humans and mythical beings could live side by side. Instead, they had gone underground. Never interacting with the humans, until over time, the humans believed that they had all but died out, leaving the world to them.

Perhaps he could apologise. In honesty, he didn't feel he should either. His reaction stemmed from loyalty to his people, even if they would never accept him back. He didn't want to argue with her again, she had only just started talking.

Anna spent the following morning reading over what she had written in her diary, trying to order it and remember what she wanted to say. She then spent the next few hours in the library, drawing sketches of his face as he argued with her. She wasn't even sure if he would show up, but she waited nonetheless.

As it was, Nuada came to the library, right after lunch. He saw Anna in her usual seat, sketching, as she frequently did. He had a feeling she drew pictures of the people in the bureau, possibly himself included, but he hadn't really had a good look at them.

He took a deep breath and walked up to the table.

"May I join you?" he asked, pointing to the empty chair opposite Anna.

Anna looked up at him and closed her notepad. She smiled slightly as she nodded.

"Thank you."

"Um… I thought maybe I should explain what I meant yesterday," Anna said, twisting her hands together nervously.

"It is… alright. I can partly understand the point you made. Perhaps we did hide ourselves. Perhaps we should have lived side by side with humans. Perhaps we could have done a million things differently. All my father wanted was peace. All I wanted was to live freely," Nuada said.

"It just seemed… unfair to blame us for everything. We aren't perfect. But neither are your kind," Anna said quietly.

"No, we all have our failings. I understand why humans have forgotten us. We were not there to remind them. I understand why the demon wants to be known by the humans. But they will not accept him. We have been lost to them for too long. I fear it is too late for them to repair the damage," said Nuada.

"Maybe they can still change? Maybe you… we can help them?" Anna asked.

"Perhaps," Nuada replied, smiling at her positive nature.

Red then entered the library, flexing his arms and his stone hand.

"Don't we have a date?" he said, winking at Nuada.

"Excuse me. The demon wanted a rematch," Nuada said, rising from his seat and taking off his shirt.

"Okay," Anna replied, smiling up at him.

She tried desperately to keep from blushing at the sight of his perfectly formed chest, and diverted her eyes to her notepad.

Nuada put his shirt on the table and picked up his spear and sword from the floor. He threw the sword to Red and went down the steps to get into his position, spinning the spear expertly in his hand.

Anna glanced down at the two as they circled each other, and stole a quick feel of the black shirt resting on the table. It was the softest silk she had ever felt, and still had warmth to it from Nuada's body. She pulled her hand back, and couldn't resist bringing her fingers to her nose. She inhaled softly, and the gentle scent of flowers invaded her senses. She closed her eyes and tried not to shudder as goose bumps broke out all over her skin.

Her mind was brought back when she heard the clash of metal against metal. Red and Nuada had started sparring. As usual, Nuada was using his flawless skill to block Red's blows with the sword, lunging back and forth, using his body's great flexibility to jump around the library floor.

He was clearly much faster than Red and much more skilful with his weapon, but Red seemed to be holding his own quite well, using his strength and his stone hand to block, while lunging with his sword.

Anna was on the edge of her seat as she watched them fight. Her hand was almost a blur as it skipped over her notepad, sketching like mad. She pulled page after page out of her notepad, dumping the sketches on the table.

When she ran out of paper, she went back to her sketches to see what she had come up with. Unfortunately, she had neglected the empty pad and pencil resting on her knee, so when she turned to reach some of the sketches on the table, the pad and pencil slid off, dropping to the floor with a thud. It was enough to distract Nuada for a second, and Red managed to grab him by the neck with his hand and placed the sword against his chest.

"Never let anything break your attention," Red said, quoting Nuada from the previous fight.

Red let Nuada go, and smiled arrogantly at the Elf Prince, handing the sword back.

"Looks like we're even," Red said as he left the library with a self-satisfied smirk on his face.

Nuada came back to the table, looking none too pleased. His body had a faint shine to it, which Anna could only assume was perspiration. He was breathing heavily as he put down his weapons and picked up his shirt.

"I'm so sorry!" Anna whispered, twisting her hands under her sleeves.

"It is not your fault. He is right. I should not allow anything to distract me. I thought perhaps you had fallen again," he said, smiling at her.

Anna blushed at the memory of her first night. She hadn't dared to stand on a chair to reach books again.

"I just dropped my pad," explained Anna.

"I will take my leave. I must change," he said, putting his shirt on, but not tying it.

Anna nodded, trying not to look at the small expanse of muscle showing through the gap in his shirt.

He inclined his head and left, his shirt flaring out slightly as he walked.

Anna tried to shake the images of him from her mind as she gathered her drawings together. She went back to her room to draw them properly, all the while, running the images of him practicing through her mind as she added the details. She was also pleased that he hadn't gotten angry with her because of their argument. She knew that he could have quite easily have taken offense to it, but she knew humans weren't completely to blame. They all lived on the same planet, and they all had a responsibility to look after it.

A/N: More shirtless Nuada! Couldn't resist!