A/N ~ Hey, I finally got the next chapter up! YaY! Enjoy!
Wren pulled herself up the last stretch and stood on the top of the mountain. She looked around herself. The view was extraordinary. She could see for miles.
The top of the mountain, though chilly, was beautiful as well. All the trees were just starting to grow leaves and small flower buds were starting to peak out of the ground.
Wren sighed contentedly, and then turned as Connor came up behind her, breathing heavily. They stood together for a minute enjoying the view. Then Wren broke the silence.
We'd better get started setting up camp," she said.
Connor nodded, and they set about building a fire.
~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~
That night, they sat in front of the fire, trying to keep warm.
"So where should we go from here?" asked Wren.
Connor shrugged. "Well, I guess we can keep going west..." he trailed off.
Wren nodded happily. "Pay a visit to the palace," she said.
Connor nodded.
"I wonder how Teressa's doing," Wren continued, "I mean, she's Queen now."
"Yeah, and Tyron's Queen's Magician." Added Connor.
"It seems like just yesterday, we were all just kids. No responsibilities."
"Some of us had more responsibilities than others." Said Connor with a grimace, remembering his days in the palace as a prince.
Wren grinned.
Connor lay awake late into the cold night, thinking about the old days.
Things are different now, he thought. He looked over at Wren, sleeping in front of the fire. Very different.
Looking at Wren reminded him of how much he himself had changed. His feelings for Wren had changed too. He wasn't sure how, but it made him uncomfortable to think about it.
He shivered and shifted his position, trying to fall asleep. But it wasn't just the cold keeping him awake.
~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~
Sitting on the mountain in the morning, the conversation turned back to their old friends. "Do you think there's a king?" wondered Wren.
Connor frowned. "I can't imagine Teressa surrendering her power to any suitor." He said. Wren grinned and nodded.
"Yeah. I guess you're right. I can't imagine her marrying anyone for any reason other than love."
Connor was silent for a minute. Then he said, "Do you think she could have fallen in love?"
Wren looked at him in surprise. He was looking back at her. She looked away. It made her dizzy, somehow, to look at him like that.
She'd recently started to get very confused about how she felt when she looked at Connor. She thought about his question. Love, she thought. Could this be love? She looked back at Connor. He was still looking at her.
She swallowed, then she looked bravely into his eyes. She thought she saw a quick flash of fear, but then it was replaced with determination, as he leaned forward and kissed her.
A/N ~ Whew! That was fun! If you don't like it, tough. Review anyway. Please.