Liam stood on a secluded portion of the Swoops' wall, looking out at on the ocean, the moon reflected on its great expanse. They were all heading back to Corus tomorrow, and he couldn't sleep. The last few weeks had been either the best or worst of his life, and despite spending at least an hour considering which it was, he still wasn't sure. He and Olivia had hardly been separated the entire time, and she'd finally started to relax, especially around him, George and Alanna. The guardedness had vanished, and she even talked about her childhood occasionally.

They went running and hit the practice courts in the morning when they woke up, then bathed. They had breakfast next, then they went for a ride. After lunch, they went swimming together and spent time at the beach until dinner. After dinner, they did some more weapons practice, then they lounged about in George and Alanna's comfortable library, talking, playing chess and exchanging stories. Sometimes it was just the two of them, and sometimes some of the others joined them.

Liam had enjoyed every moment with her, but it had also been agony. He burned to touch her, but he was terrified of pushing her away again. He'd ignored all other women the entire time, to the point that Korintha had teasingly asked him if he was in love. Luckily, she was too busy preventing Lerant from getting out of his hospital bed too quickly and sorting out her own feelings for the stubborn standard-bearer to spend much time trying to tease a confession of love from Liam.

Love. Was that what this was? The thing that made his heart pound every time she was near. That made him smile every time she smiled, and his stomach clench every time her sadness returned. Did love make every other woman seem dull next to her? He'd never asked for love. Never wanted love. He almost wished he'd never met her. He would have married Kendra, and then he'd get to spend his time fighting for his country, coming home only when he was tired of battle or his brother needed him. Maybe that would have been better. Nothing to tug him away or tie him down.

"Can't sleep either?" At the sound of her voice, Liam knew how foolish his thinking had been only moments before. He'd never wish that sound away, no matter what happened.

"Nope," he said, as she walked over and stood next to him.

"Full moon," she commented, shivering slightly from the night breeze. "It's a little bit chilly out here."

She slipped under his arm and pressed herself against his side, forcing him to warm her. She is going to be the death of me, he thought, holding her against him. He moved his hand up and down her side, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation as she leaned her head against his chest.

He'd gotten good at controlling his physical response to her presence. His breathing no longer grew more ragged, and she no longer would be able to feel his heart speed up. What he couldn't control was his awareness of every single place where her body touched his, or his annoyance at the layers of clothing that separated her skin from his.

Despite Liam's warmth, Olivia was still shivering. Liam moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her, placing his chin on the top of her head, grateful for the excuse to hold her.

"There's the North Star," Olivia said. "Shining the way. I love the North Star. I know everyone I care about can always see it, and it will always help me find my home."

Liam smiled. "That's what my mother always says."

"It's from a K'miri legend. Do you know it?"

Liam shook his head. "I know a lot of them, but not that one."

"Want to hear it?"

"Of course," Liam said, moving his head slightly to press his cheek against her temple and rubbing his hands along her arms to warm them.

"Long ago, there were no stars. Only the moon lived in the night sky. During that time, there lived a woman and her son. The woman loved her son more than anything else in the world. They spent all their time together. She told him stories and taught him games. She tucked him in at night and sang him songs until he fell asleep. One night after she'd put him to bed, raiders came. She managed to get away, but her son was killed. She was devastated, and at night she could hear his spirit wandering, trying to find his way home. One night, she couldn't take it anymore and she ran into the forest, crying out for his spirit to find his way to peace. One of the K'miri horse lords heard her cries and came to her. She offered to take her to the sky where she could guide all lost souls forever more. The woman agreed, and the goddess took her up into the sky. She became the first star, the North Star, and her son saw her in the sky and he went to her, and became the second star. After that, the lost souls with no home joined the woman and her son in the sky to become one of the family of stars, and all other lost souls used the North Star to find their way home."

"That's beautiful," Liam said when she finished.

"Isn't it?"

"Did Appa tell you that story?"

Olivia stiffened immediately, but Liam didn't let go of her. "Why are you so protective of him?"

Olivia breathed out. "Habit," she said quietly. "He's important to me. If anyone found out back home, they would try and keep him away. Perhaps worse."

"Are you in love with him?"

Olivia snorted. "Gross. No. He's like family to me. And my mother used to tell me and Jasper that story every night before she died, and after she died, we began telling it to each other every night. We knew that she could see the North Start too, even where she was."

"How old were you when she died?"

"Three."

"How old are you?"

Olivia smiled. "Older than you."

"Ah, the mysterious older woman act. Seductive."

Olivia laughed. "I'm twenty one. Your future wife is sixteen."

Liam shifted his weight, uncomfortable with the mention of Kendra. "Really? That's pretty young."

"Not in Saren. I'm an old maid in Saren."

"So, why aren't you married?"

"I've managed to avoid it so far, using a great deal of skill."

"Eventually, will you have to?"

Olivia cocked her head. "Promise not to tell?"

"Of course."

"If my father ever really tries to force me to marry, I plan to leave and join my mother's tribe. I'll probably do that eventually anyways."

"What are you and Jasper up to exactly?"

Olivia shook her head. "I already said too much."

"Olivia, you can trust me."

"I know," Olivia said softly. "But it's always better to tell only what's necessary."

"Are you going to try and put Jasper on the throne? Tell me. Mother wants to help, and father would never get in your way. Frankly, we'd love to support you to get better trade relations, besides our feelings about the current king and the K'mir. It would have to be invisible support, but we could get you money, and I would guess some of our warriors will leave to help you. I know Korintha probably would, and father will have to work hard to keep Buri from going as well."

Olivia didn't say anything, but she nodded slightly. Liam felt her head move across his cheek and smiled. He kissed her temple, and she looked up at him. "What was that?" she asked.

"Thank you for trusting me."

"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything," Olivia said, her voice innocent.

Liam laughed, sending vibrations through them both. "Did you grandmother tell you any stories from Tortall?"

"Not really. She told me a few of the old adventure stories, stories about the Dominion Jewel and the like."

"George told me some of the commoner folktales. Want me to tell you about the man in the moon?"

Olivia ducked under his arm. She sat down on the wall and patted the ground next to her. "Tell me," she said.

Liam smiled and sat down next to her. Olivia leaned on him again, and he put his arm around of her and told her the story of the man in the moon.

"So the man in the moon is a thief hiding from the Provost's Guards and laughing at them?" Olivia said, giggling when he finished the story. "Why do I think that's George's story more than a traditional Tortallan one."

Liam shrugged. "That's the only way I heard it."

"Well, I do like it. But we should really go to bed."

"Let's stay a little longer," Liam said. "It's too nice a night not to enjoy it as long as possible."

Olivia looked up at him, her eyes sad. "I don't want to leave here."

"Then don't. Alanna says you always have a home here, and she means it."

"I can't just start living here. Living off of them."

"You would be a good Rider, and there's tons of other things you could do if you feel that way."

Olivia shook her head and sighed, looking up at the North Star. "I have to go back. Back to my people."

Liam couldn't stop himself from tightening his grip on her possessively. Olivia smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Maybe I can come visit," she said. "I will miss you."

Liam found himself staring at her lips. They were so close to his, so inviting. He glanced up and realized she was looking at his lips. He moved forward slightly, and her lips parted slightly, her breathing picking up. Suddenly, Olivia stood up, breaking the spell.

"Come on," she said, reaching out a hand to help him up. "Time for bed. We have quite a ride tomorrow."

Liam grimaced slightly, but let her pull him up. He walked with her back into the castle, parting ways at one of the hallways and mentally cursing the mango that was trying to drive him crazy with every single one of her actions.

----

Poor Liam. I really must stop torturing him so. Next is the delegation from the Cooper Isles. Don't you want to know who's coming and what trouble will be caused? Review please!