Three days later, trees were chopped down and made into logs. The logs were laid about in such a way that it made a bed. Tinder was placed all around it. The infection had been too much for th eold man and he finally gave up. Amanda had not left his side the entire time caring for him. She wante dso bad to save his life, but without the proper facilities, there was only so much she could do.

Camp was set up roughly a quarter-mile away from where the log bed lay. The old man, Roland, was placed on top of it blanket in plants from flowers to ferns. Amanda stood nearby holding a torch. Her eyes were downcast. She couldn't help, but feel somewhat responsible for the man. She had gathered he hadn't any family left because of the war. He had been but a simple farmer on the outskirts of the village some of the people were from. Amanda was the last person he knew, and she let him die.

It wasn't like she tried to kill him, but everyon ewsa looking to her to save them. She was the leader. It was up to her to make an army. It was up to her to feet and shelter her people. How could they possibly trust her if she couldn't keep them alive?

She looked around at the small crowd that had gathered. Only the people who knew Roland showed along with her brother nad the others. She gazed at each individual and could swear they were all judging her. She could see it in their eyes. They blamed her. And she couldn't blame them.

Miss Unfortune appeared beside her. Amanda didn't even acknowledge her presence. She didn't want her to put her two sense in.

"It's time, my lady," she whispered. Miss Unfortune stepped forward and turned to the rest of the crowd. "Roland's spirit has left his vessel. It is time to return his body to the earth from which it came. May his spirit be free." Her eyes found Amanda telling her that it was time. Amanda stepped forward and put the torch to the tinder. It spread around the bottom thanks to oil. Amanda went and stood next to her brother. He touched her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Amanda. I know you tried." Amanda mvoed her shoulder to make him drop his hand.

"If I did, he'd still be alive," Amanda said walking away from the fire. She had to be alone. She iddn't want to be around anyone. She couldn't be around anyone. She walked back to camp and saw that some of the people were getting ready to leave. The people had no hope. Amanda couldn't see how anyone coul dhave any hope in a situation such as that. Everyone around them was sick, tired, dying or already dead.

The place she was taking them had no garuntee of safety. It had no garuntee of a true life where they could live in peace.

She walked straight through the camp not even saying a word to the people trying to leave. She figured they were adults and if they thought they had a better chance of being alone than staying then they could leave. They werne't being held there against their will.

She walked off away enough to where she cuoldn't smell the smoke or hear anything from camp. She leaned up against a tree and took a deep breath. How could she do this? How could she govern so many people? How could so many people follow her? She wasn't even of this world. Whatever this world was.

A twig broke behind her making her jerk around.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Steve said with a chuckle on his breath. "Why are you all the way out here? There's people trying to leave. And there's talk of others leaving."

"I just wanted to be alone." Steve stepped next to her.

"Too bad." Amanda gave him a flat look. "What wrong?" Amanda debated on whether to tell him or not. She sighed.

"I can't do this, Steve. I'm not meant to be a leader. It doesn't matter what any prophecy says." Steve scratched the back of his head.

"You know who you sound like?" Amanda crossed her arms looking up at him.

"Who?"

"Me." Amanda gave him a strange look. It was better than saying that she was like Tony. "No one saw me as a man until i became Captain America. I was small, sick, and when people saw me, they only saw a burden. Even after the serum I was nothing but a liability. I'm sure you've seen the old films. They turned me into a media icon. When I finally went overseas to perform for the soldiers." He scrunched his face at the memory. Almost as if he didn't like talking about it. "They booed me off stage. It was at that time I realized that what I was doing wasn't doing any good. That was when I heard Bucky was a POW." He sighed leaning up against the tree beside Amanda. "After that, I became who I am now."

Amanda turned to face him and put her head against his chest putting her hands on his waist. Steve's hands found her arms and he squeezed them reassuringly.

"I don't see how that makes me like you, Steve," she whispered. Steve lifted her chin to look him in the eye.

"I did what I had to do. And I know that ou'll do that same. No one has hope because you hav eno hope. You're their leader. They'll fight if you fight."

"You sound so sure." Steve grinned as he held her face in his hands. He lowered his lips to where they were almost touching hers.

"I'm Captain America. Of course I'm sure." Amanda grinned.

"Can't argue with that logic." Stev moved closer to her lips, but stopped as if he were asking permission. Amanda leaned forward closing the gap. Their arms wrapped aroun deach other forcing the kiss deeper. Their lips moved desperatly as if trying to find every little detail and memorize it.

Amanda broke the kiss first. She felt like she was about to pass out. It ha dbeen a long, long time since Amanda had kissed a man and here she was kissing Captain America. All the blood in her body reshed to her cheeks. She looked into eyes. She could swim in them forever, but she had to step away.

"I'm sorry, Steve. This probably shouldn't happen." Stgeve stood there for a moment taken aback by her words.

"Why not?" Amanda turned away from him to keep from attacking his lips again.

"If Tony ever found out, he'd go nuts." Steve stood behind her putting his hands on her shoulders.

"I'm not worried about Tony. I can handle Tony." Amanda sighed leaning up against his chest unable to resist his touch any longer.

"I like you, Steve. Really, I do. You just don't understand how terrible my brother can be." Steve turned her to face him.

"I don't care. I want to be with you, not him." Amanda raised her eyebrows.

"Assertive, aren't we?" Steve sighed looking at his feet. He couldn't help but think of Peggy. There was so much he had missed out on with her just because he wasn't assertive enough. He would never miss a chance like that again. Especially with a woman like Amanda. He knew he couldn't tell that to Amanda. She wouldn't understand. Instead of telling her the truth, he began stumbling over his words.

Amanda chuckled. He seemed so confident just seconds before and now he seemed to be falling apart at the seams. Amanda put her finger to his lips shushing him.

"I'm not worth it, Steve." Steve narrowed his eyes. She was a Stark. Shouldn't she be all full of herself just like her father and brother?

"I'll be the judge of that," he countered. Amanda then scoffed.

"You're not going to give up until I give in, aren't you?" Steve bent and kissed her lips gently.

"You're catching on." Amanda reached up and kissed his lips again. Steve's heart felt like it was going to break through his ribcage it was beating so hard. When he spoke, he sounded so sure of himself, but in all reality, he was so nervous he felt he was going to be sick. However, the more and more he spoke to Amanda about wanting to be with her, the more and more the nervousness went away. Mainly because she hadn't run away kicking and screaming.

Her arms wrapped around his neck pulling him closer to her. Steve's hands tangled in her hair as the other wrapped around her waist. A groan escaped her lips only causing Steve to squeeze her tighter. He was amazed at how good it felt to have her pressed up against him.

Steve broke the kiss then rested his forehead against hers.

"Tony can't know. I don't want him ruining this," she whispered. Steve nodded. "We'd better get back to camp." He Didn't want to, but he knew she was right.

Amanda watched as the people were packing their things. She took a deep breath. She had to say something. There was no way these people could make it on their own. She didn't want them to leave. She had to protect them.

"It's reasons like this is why The Tainted Prince is winning." All eyes were on her. "Every time you get scared, you pack up and leave. He stands unapposed because no one dares stand against him. You lay down and let him and his armies walk all over you. He takes you homes an dfamilies and you do nothing."

"And what would you have us do?" someone asked within the crowd.

"Stand," she said softly. Looks were exchanged within the crowd and murmurs shot through.

"How? There are but thirty of us." Amanda looked towards the voice. The crowd began to agree with the voice.

"You have seen what a mere seven can do. Imagine what thiry, or a hundred, or a thousand could accomplish, but we must stand together. These lands used to be free. Together, we can make them fre once more. For those about to leave, to give up, i want you to think of the cost. I want you to think of your wives and daughters. Your husbands and sons. We have lost so many to slavery and worse. How much more are you willing to lose when you have already lost so much?"

Eyes became downcast within the crowd. Amanda wasn't sure how her words would effect the people, if they woul deffect them at all.

"We leave at dawn. No matter of your choice, but I will say, you hvae a better chance standing."

Amanda turned and walked away. She walke dover to her tent and grabbed her saddle bag. From her bag, she grabbed a map of the land and a spare piece of parchment. she wlaked passed Steve grabbing his wrist. She pulling him over next to a fire and forced him to sit next to it. She opened the map of the land and put it on his lap. She put the tips of her fingers together making a circle with her hands. She put the circle over th earea they were traveling.

"i want this," she said then unrolled the spare parchement. "On this. Make it as close to scale as possible." steve nodded, but frowned. He wondered how she knew he could draw. It wasn't really publicized back in the day that he had any other talents than punching a fake Hitler in the face in every major city in America. He pushed the thoughts aside.

"I don't have a pencil," he said. Amanda looked at the fire and grabbed a stick that was only halfway in. Sh eknocked off the burning part of the stick then started rolling it at an angle on one of the rocks surrounding the fire until the charred tip became pointed. She touched it quickly with her fingers to make sure it wasn't burning anymore. She then handed it to Steve.

"Welcome to the Dark Ages." She put her hand on his shoulder and pushed herself up allowing her touch to last as long as possible. Steve couldn't hide a grin. Amanda moved towards the others.

"Clint, Natasha we need bows and arrows. twenty arrows per bow. Give them out to every abled body seventeen and up. men and women. Use whatever you have to." Clint and Natasha nodded and headed itno the forest. "Bruce, Tony, we need medicinal herbs. As many as you can gether. Thor." Thor stepped forward. "We're going to go play Robin Hood." Thor gave her a confused look.

"How do we play this game? We do not have it in Asgard." Amanda grinned.

"It's a fun game. We fight and we make money." Thor grinned.

"I think this game. Amanda walked over to him.

"Who wouldn't?" Amanda looked at Steve as he was the only left around. "We'll be back by morning." Steve nodded then got back to drawing. Thor began spinning hsi hammer and wrapped his arm around Amanda's waist.

"Thor," Steve called out. "Take care of her." Thor grinned.

"Fear not. I will bring your woman back to you safely." Amanda shot him a look as he took off.