Thank you for all the comments on the last (and every other chapter) so far. Here's some more fourtris for you.

Beatrice woke up when the morning was still far with a gasp. She sat up in her bed, breathing heavily and rubbing her clammy hands over her face. What initially had been the sweetest dream of herself and the prince had turned into a nightmare that had shaken her awake.

They were in the ball room all alone, dancing in the middle of the dance floor to a song none of them was able to hear. It didn't matter as they swayed in their own rhythm and kissed in the semi-darkness that was lit only by a handful of candles on the empty tables around them. Tobias' soft lips melted against hers as she pulled him closer. But then the walls started to crumble around them until they collapsed, and they were surrounded by a large crowd of people staring at them and whispering to each other on the quiet.

Suddenly the queen emerged from the crowd and, with a dapper wave of her hand, magically separated her and the prince. Then she passed her a sphere that contained her next task.

"But that's impossible," she protested, yet the queen only laughed at her.

"You either do that, or you'll never see the prince again. Choose. Choose between him and your parents. It's up to you."

"But my brother has already left them," she said.

"It's up to you. Then you'll fail."

And the crowd joined in, their voices closing in on her.

"Then you'll fail. You'll fail. Fail. Fail..."

Then all the people disappeared, including Tobias, who just shrugged and turned away from her, and all that was left was the voices.

"Fail. Fail. Fail."

Beatrice desperately tried to remember what the assigned task had been, but she couldn't. The memories of the dream were too blurry, so all that was left from it was the despair and loneliness she had felt in it. Would she fail? How could she not? Her, Beatrice from Abnegation...

She looked over at Christina, who kept snoring peacefully in her bed. She had failed to complete the last task, but she didn't mind it much. Like she had said earlier, she was now going to be able to take the chance to reconcile with Will and live a happy life with him in Candor. She wouldn't have to complete any more tasks to make that true, whereas Beatrice didn't know what else she'd be facing. And this time, she'd be on her own. Sure, she would gladly take up on Christina's offer to go to Candor together and to stay with her family. But from then on out, she'd be in it alone. She had made sure to arrange another meeting with Marlene before their departure. She wanted to learn as much as possible if it helped to increase her chances at winning. Especially after last night...

Her determination was strong.

Slowly, her breathing went back to normal and the bitter aftertaste the dream had left vanished. In the need to occupy her hands and settle her thoughts, she fiddled for the Amity box in her bag. It was just within reach without having to actually get up. Her eyes grew wide as she found the fourth lock had opened. She squinted to be able to see the letters in the darkness: 'FRIEND'

Beatrice traced the word with her fingertips before it disappeared almost as soon as it had written itself underneath the open lock. So she had shown love to a friend... Considering what had happened since the last time she had taken a look at the box back home in Abnegation, there could only really be two people who that word could refer to. It had to be either Christina or Tobias.

But was friendship what she had with the prince? It felt different, deeper than that, although she wouldn't go as far as to call it love. Not yet. Maybe, in the future... Maybe friendship was a normal step on the way when falling in love? She didn't know about such things. She had always assumed love would come with a bang. The realization that it might be a process was new to her, as were the questions, doubts and nerves that appeared along with it.

But also the butterflies... Oh, how lighthearted she had felt in Tobias arms on the tower. For the precious time she had spent in his embrace, she had been able to forget about the whole competition and gotten to live in the very moment. Of course, rational thought had returned later, but wow had those kisses felt amazing.

No, that was definitely more than friendship. It had to be.

That brought her back to Christina. What had she done for her that could have affected the lock? It wasn't that difficult to think of something: It had to have been her attempt to let her pass the task along with herself. Unfortunately, it hadn't worked and the bowl had refused to reward them with two gemstones, yet it was the thought that had counted for the box, obviously.

Still, it was difficult to imagine doing things like hiking to the edge of the Dark Forest without anyone by her side. They had debated whether it was wise for her to team up with any of the other girls instead, but Christina had said that they might not have Beatrice's best interests at heart. They all strived to win the prince for themselves and they couldn't be fully trusted. For the start, she'd have Christina by her side in Candor though, or at least for part of that task.

Beatrice envied her for the deep slumber she was in and wished she had the same ability to tune out the real world. She would try, now, to fall asleep again for at least an hour or two to catch up with the sleep she'd missed during the week.

And though her mind was still caught between hopes and fears, between memories of the past and tentative dreams of a future by the prince's side, she fell asleep before the sun touched the horizon somewhere behind the clouds.

The prince was up early and climbed the tower once more to watch daylight taking over the night. He could hardly remember the last time he had watched the sunrise. Even with the sun hidden behind clouds, the light it emitted was still visible. Tobias admired how beautiful the landscape looked as it was slowly bathed in light that brought the colors to life and made the faint mist above the snow-patched grass glow. The whole atmosphere was so light and peaceful, and it impressed him how deeply it affected him. Although each day came with the break of dawn like this, he never valued it like he did now. A new day, a new beginning.

He hoped to see Beatrice again in the morning. He went down to wait for her near the hall the girls had breakfast in, hoping to be able to steal a few minutes with her when she came out. But he hadn't considered how exposed he would be to the other girls, and of course they all stopped to greet him and exchange a few pleasantries with him. He couldn't care less about them, knowing most of the nice things they said were probably lies that were supposed to impress him. He saw past those, not valuing any of them, and only answered in short sentences that he hoped would cause them to leave him alone again.

Unfortunately, he was surrounded by three girls when Beatrice came out of the breakfast hall. She wasn't alone either, her Candor friend - what was her name again? - and two girls from Dauntless accompanied her, which made it impossible for him to approach her. Nonetheless, his heart beat faster as soon as he saw her and their eyes caught each other's. He tried to communicate to her that he had thought of her, and only her, all night since their kisses on the tower, that she had followed him even in his dreams, but it was impossible to put all that into a single glance. He needed to catch her alone before she left.

Writing to her had worked yesterday, so he did it again. He scribbled a short note and folded the paper to fit into his palm and then went to find Shauna. She was Zeke's fiancée, and although he wasn't very close to her, he trusted her to keep the necessary quiet about his request to pass on the note. He assumed Zeke kept her informed about what was going on in the castle anyway.

He waited for Beatrice on the balcony they had already spent time together the week before, wondering if she'd come. What if she had changed her mind and realized he was not the kind of person she wanted by her side?

Just when he thought she wouldn't show up anymore, she was suddenly beside him. It was too dangerous to get closer to her than what the rules of decency allowed, especially in broad daylight and with a lot of people walking around in the castle. He still was happy to see her and relieved that she had followed his invitation to meet him here, even if they only had little time to share before he had to go down to the patio. Jeanine had ordered him to be there and oversee the girls picking their new tasks because she was busy with something. She wouldn't say what it was, though, that she was doing, like she never did. Usually, he couldn't care less what she was up to, but somehow an unknown uneasiness had taken hold inside his stomach.

"Look, Beatrice, I just wanted to see you once more before you go," he began. "I wish you didn't have to leave."

"I'm afraid I have no choice."

"I know. I didn't want to make you feel guilty. I just... I wish you all the best for your task and I hope to dance with you again next Saturday."

"It would be an honor."

They exchanged a smile that also held a promise.

"Are you still planning to go to Candor?"

"Yes, it's the best option I have. I can count on Christina's support there as far as she's allowed. I can't tell her about the actual task, but I can ask her for directions and stay with her family."

"I hope you'll make it back safely."

"Candor isn't that dangerous, I think. Difficult maybe, but not dangerous. Or so I hope."

"You're right. I'll try not to worry, but I'll count the days until you return."

"I will, too. I'll be back, I promise. I'm in this for you now."

His gaze rested on her lips. He wished he could kiss her goodbye and hold her one last time before she had to leave. But perhaps he could.

"Come," he said, offering her his hand, but then took it away as he remembered they were still out in the open for passers-by to see.

He led her inside and down a flight of stairs, in the direction of the patio, but along a corridor that was less frequently used. He pushed open a door to the right and gestured for Beatrice to go through it before him.

It led into a storeroom where spare tableware and napery were kept on wooden shelves. It was dark and a little stuffy in there, but it provided the privacy he was craving. As soon as the door fell shut behind him, Beatrice had already flung her arms around his neck and was kissing him. It was a pleasant surprise to have her this close again this fast, and he responded eagerly to her kiss. Warmth flooded him as he stumbled backwards against the door and pulled her with him, the imminent separation and lack of time leading to an urgency their kisses and touches had not had the night before.

He ran his fingers up and down her back and sides and tangled his fingers in her hair, trying to memorize the feel and shape of her until she would be back.

Tobias still felt the taste of her lips as he stood in the patio and watched girl after girl pick a sphere from one of the five bowls. Beatrice lingered in the background until it was her turn. She wasn't the last to go, but there were not many left when she stepped in front of the Candor bowl to receive her next task.

He watched her unfold the piece of parchment that the sphere set free for her. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment after she had read what it said, then opened them in conviction. That had to mean it was manageable, hadn't it? He longed to know what it was that the tiny letters told her to do. He knew she couldn't tell him, knew she had no choice but to go now, although he wished it wasn't so.

Their eyes met one last time, and then she turned around. Walking away towards the archway that marked the beginning of the path leading down from the castle, her hand skimmed along the wall. He couldn't say what it was about that movement, but it was odd. Was she giving him a sign? And if so, what did it mean?

Tobias waited until the last girl had gone and he was alone in the patio. He looked around twice to make sure he wasn't being watched before he approached the wall Beatrice had traced and looked closely. What was it that she had wanted to let him know?

Sure enough, in a gap between two stones, he spotted something yellowish. The parchment! It had to be! He snuck in two fingers and fumbled to reach it and pull it out. Now he would know what she'd be up to this week. Curiously, he unfolded it and read:

'Bring a flask of water from the Fountain of Truth.'