A/N: Sorry for the wait everyone! I've just started a new school year, and homework has overloaded me, and I'm starting a new job, and I'm settling in… It's a very stressful time, but I knew I had to write, I knew it would help to relax me. So, here is an update! I hope its good enough for all of you!

The crew trudged on, three days into their journey, their icy breaths making clouds of warmth in the cold air. It would soon be the first snow, thought Kaden as she rubbed her hands together to keep them warm. She had forgotten gloves, so when they got back to Corus, she was going to make a list of things to bring back with them.

They would be in Naxen by nightfall, and Kaden couldn't wait to sleep in a real bed, in the warmth again. It worried her that all of them had to sleep in the cold, and she couldn't imagine what it would be like when it started to snow. She didn't think she'd be able to deal with that much cold. She hated the cold.

Having all of this silence on the ride up gave Kaden time to think, a lot. She knew it was awkward for everyone, but it seemed that no one wanted to talk about anything. It was probably the most awkward for Kaden, seeing as two men she had been close with seemed to hate her at the moment. And she was with them all day long. She grimaced. She couldn't wait to get to Corus. Even if it was just to get out of the awkward silence.

She thought first about Damek. Sure, it was uncomfortable for him, too. He didn't know anyone but her. And he had confided in her, and he had completely trusted her, and she had failed him. She was ashamed of herself. She knew how much she had let him down, and as much as she didn't even want to look at him, she knew she had to apologize for dragging him all the way out of his comfort zone, and crushed his heart. She had been so foolish to fool with him and confuse him. It was her fault he had felt that way for her. She had only herself to blame.

Allan had been right. Maybe she was the problem. Maybe she wasn't always right, maybe she was always wrong. Maybe she didn't know anything at all. But, that's not true. She knew plenty of things. But, maybe she knew all of the wrong things. She sighed. Working through this mess wasn't very fun. It was making her sound like the bad guy in all of it. And, she thought, maybe I am.

Allan, on the other hand, had been a complete surprise. And, she couldn't believe that she was even seeing him again. Was that a good thing? She didn't know what she felt anymore. She had made so many mistakes in her life so far, and she knew that she was going to make many more. That made her feel uneasy. So did he. Him being there made everything worse. And at the same time, it was comforting to see such a familiar face. All of her other friends from years back, when she first moved to Corus, when her adventure had just began, they were all gone. And, boom, in walks the one person she had never even thought of that whole year, and acts as if he's not even surprised to see her. She hated him, but at the same time, she didn't. There was this weird feeling deep inside her she couldn't explain, even to herself. She didn't know what it was, but it was a good feeling. It was strange and unusual and confusing.

"Let's stop here." Perrin said, slowing down his chestnut mare. It seemed that they were already in town, and Kaden had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn't realized. They were outside of an inn called The Featherbed. She jumped off her horse and led her to the stables. Everyone was tending to their horses, and Kaden finished first. She walked into the inn, taking four rooms, and telling the innkeeper that they needed hot baths and hot dinners before bed.

She went to her room, and watched as the inn maids filled her tub with steaming water. It smelled like lavender and chamomile in her room, and she sprawled herself on the bed, taking off her boots and wiggling her aching toes. She sighed again, and closed her eyes. It felt good to be back on a bed in a warm room.

"Milady, your bath is ready. Did you need anything else?" A young maid, probably no older than fourteen, asked her. She smiled at the maid and gave her two copper coins, and asked her to bring some hot tea and biscuits. The girl smiled, curtsied, and ran out the door. After Kaden's bath, she dressed in a nightgown, silky and smelling of rose petals and tangerines, and sat before the hearth with her cup of tea and warm cinnamon biscuits. But, not before there was a knock at the door. She opened it a crack and peered out.

"I heard you were in the city. I thought I'd pop in and say hi." Kaden's mouth felt like it dropped to her feet. In front of her was her one friend, the one person she had trusted throughout her years in the capital.

"Ambrose?!" She stumbled out of her room and hugged the older woman fiercely. "What are you doing here? How did you know I was here? What's going on?"

"Whoa, little lady, calm down!" Ambrose stepped into the room, and sat down in the second chair by the hearth. She grabbed a biscuit and bit into it. Kaden shut the door, and climbed into the other chair. "Sit, I'll tell you everything."

Ambrose explained that she couldn't stand being in Corus any longer. Being a married woman, and having fulfilled her purpose in Corus, she felt like she no longer needed to be there, so she told Edvard that she needed a change. And, an opportunity came up in Naxen where they needed a new lord and lady. Ambrose explained that the previous lord and lady had been unsuccessful at having children, and were too old to take over the city any longer. So, they took in Edvard and Ambrose, and they were learning how to run a fief!

"You have no idea how excited I am. Soon, when we've figured out how to do all of this, we'll be running this place! And, it's not like Edvard won't still be tied to the king. He'll definitely be tied to the king, with an even stronger knot!" Ambrose took the last bite of her biscuit and dusted her hands off. "And, soon, we'll be having children… I'm so excited for that! We'll have a real family, soon."

"I'm so happy for you, Ambrose." Kaden smiled at her friend, and finished off her tea. "I can't even believe that you're here right now. This is the weirdest thing. How did you know I was here?"

"Word gets around, you know? And, you're a legend, Kaden. Everyone wants to hear about the one that saved the Dominion Jewel last year." She smiled. "Don't be upset. It was a brave thing you did."

"I know." Kaden hesitated. "But, it's just hard to look back on."

"I know." Ambrose smiled reassuringly. "So, why are you here? That's one question that's been on my mind all night."

Kaden explained that the king wanted her to go on another adventure, about a falcon, and also explained to her that she was heading back to Corus to find someone who could actually fix the problem instead of just messing around with it. "I don't think he realized that I don't know anything about falcons, and to be honest, I'm really not good at sleuthing. But, he wanted me to do it, and I live to serve the king, so I did." Kaden sighed, and tucked her feet under her legs. "You know what's funny though? Actually, hardly funny at all, but I'm in the most awkward position right now."

"What is it?" Ambrose asked intently.

"Well, you know that kid I became friends with?" Ambrose nodded. "I kind of took advantage of him… I know it was stupid of me, and I've been making a lot of mistakes lately, but it was like a rebound or something. I just wanted someone to care for me again. And, I brought him along with me on the trip. I know, another stupid mistake. And, along the way he decided that he was in love with me, and I feel so bad now. I freaked out and told him he didn't know what love was, but now he's going back to Corus, and it's all my fault for bringing him into this mess of my life. I just feel like such a fool."

"Well, it'll be a lesson for both of you. Listen, if you stopped making mistakes, you wouldn't learn anything, would you? And if you stop learning, you wouldn't become wiser to avoid mistakes you've already made." Kaden laughed heartily.

"Only you, Ambrose. How did you become so wise?"

"By making mistakes. The only way anyone can. And, from advice from others." She smiled. "I'm sorry you're love life's not going so well. It'll get better, trust me. I thought that exact thing would happen to me years ago before I met Edvard, but look at me now? Ambrose of Naxen!!" She smiled ecstatically.

"About that, someone else decided to show up in Goldenlake… someone I never expected." Kaden grimaced.

"Oh no, let me guess."

"Allan." They spoke his name simultaneously.

"How did you know?" Kaden asked, very confused.

"I just knew. I knew how badly that break up was, and I knew that he was the one person you never expected to see ever again in your life."

"Well, you're right. And it was the craziest thing. It was like, one minute I'm doing my duty to the king, the next, he's there, making me uncomfortable. And he seems to think that I was the problem in our relationship long ago! I mean, well… there's a good chance it was all my fault. That fight really was about nothing, and I made a big deal about it, and I just couldn't handle things back then. But, now that I think about it, I was so foolish."

"What are you feeling about it?"

"I have no clue! That's the thing. I used to love him, I know that. But, now I'm just confused, and it's like I hate him, but then I don't. I have a funny feeling deep inside me that makes me feel giddy inside… it's strange." Ambrose giggled softly. Kaden looked at her like she was crazy. "What? What do you know that I don't?"

"You still love him, don't you?"

"What? No, I most certainly do not! Ambrose, how can you say such a thing?" Kaden got up from her chair and went to the mirror to brush her charcoal hair out.

"Well, I can say that because, first of all, it has happened to me before. It's called butterflies. And you get them when you like someone of the opposite sex." She smiled mischievously.

"How do you know it's not just gas?" Kaden smiled back.

"Kaden! That's gross!" Ambrose got up and jumped on Kaden's bed, lying sideways. "I know what it is because gas doesn't make you giddy." Ambrose said in a cynical tone.

"Well, I really don't think I still love him. I actually really don't like him right now."

"Yes, but that's right now. Honey, you need to give it some time. Let it sit in your belly until you know. Until you're absolutely positive. That's when you'll know."

"I guess. Yeah, that makes sense. Oh, gods, what am I saying? This is Allan! I can't believe that I could possibly like him again. I thought I hated him!"

"It takes a friend like me to bring that part of you out." She smiled and threw a pillow at Kaden's head.

A/N: So… what did you think? I think that Kaden got a lot of thinking done. And I think I progressed in the story a little more. Hopefully it was a little more interesting than a filler chapter, because really interesting chapters are coming up, and this really acted as a filler. So, soon! More very, very soon. And, they're going to be the most amazing chapters of your life. Ahha. I hope so.

Abiona Marchand Love you all, R&R!!