I am sooooooooo sorry! bows head in shame I haven't forgotten about this story honest! I just got a little carried away with my other stories that I forgot to finish this chapter! But now I have and I'm writing the next one too which I'll post as soon as it's done! Thanks to those who reviewed and reminded me that some people actually want to read the end!

Sam lay back in his bath tub, scowling at the ceiling. His angry had subdued slightly, despite the giggling that came from the castle maids as he slomped past them in his soaking bird suit. He sighed loudly, sinking into the warm water until his head was submerged. The muted sound of music resounded in the metal tub. In the great hall below, the festival party had begun, but Sam had refused to go despite Ellimere's insistence.

A dull thud caught his attention and he brought his head back up out of the water. The noise happened again and Sam, realising it was someone banging on his door, groaned loudly.

"Go away!" he shouted, but the noise continued. Grunting with effort and annoyance Sam hauled himself out of the bath, wrapping a towel round his waist. He stomped across his room, roughly pulling open the door,

"What are you doing here?" he blurted out surprised.

Stood in front of him was the last person Sam had ever expected to see, Kalith. The young chestnut haired woman stood before him, now dressed in the formal uniform of the royal guard. But her eyes weren't on his face, they were, in fact considerably lower, making Sam suddenly very aware of how little he was wearing.

"I- I just brought you this." She stammered, an evident blush rising to her cheeks.

Sam looked down at the silver tray in her arms, laden with food and a goblet of wine. He looked back up at the girls' embarrassed face and felt his anger soften,

"You'd better come in then." He said, stepping aside to allow her past. Kalith looked up in surprise but nodded, carefully carrying the tray past him. Sam shut the door with a gentle click,

"Put it down over there." He said, pointing over to a small table, his voice a little sterner than he meant it to be. Kalith frowned slightly but did as she asked and waited patiently as Sam disappeared into the adjoining room.

Inside the room Sam let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. Well, that was unexpected. The girl had had the nerve to just show up here after publicly humiliating him. Sam shook his head, he wasn't sure why but for some reason he wasn't as angry as he thought he would be. Sure, he was annoyed, but not livid. He allowed himself a small smile as he remembered the look on her face as he opened the door, shock, surprise and something else Sam couldn't quite place. Sam shook his head, ignoring the unsettling feelings in his stomach and quickly pulled on his clothes.

Sam opened the door softly and found Kalith wandering across his room. He stood in the doorway, watching her for a moment. She was standing in front of his bookshelf, her head tilted to the side, reading the spines. Then she moved over to his work bench. He almost went to stop her but paused as she reached down and gently picked up a small metal frog. A smile graced her lips as she turned the metal creature over in her hand. The floorboards gave a soft creak as Sam shifted, giving him away. Kaliths eyes shot up in his direction and she hastily put the frog down. Sam gave a small cough, embarrassed he'd been caught watching her.

"Did you make all these?" Kalith asked, indicating with her hand to the array of metal creatures and gadgets on the table. Sam nodded as he walked over to her.

"They're amazing." She said.

Sam looked surprised but caught himself before he smiled. No one had ever really taken much interest in his 'toys' as Ellimere had called them, but he couldn't help but feel a tiny bit pleased. A silence filled the room as neither quite knew what to say to the other. Sam opened his mouth to speak when Kalith sighed suddenly,

"Look, I'm sorry about before." She said, "I'd just meant to trip you not make you fall in the fountain." Sam looked at her sceptically, "No, really." She insisted, "I was angry about Leille and you were so smug…"

"Smug? I hated every minute of it!"

Kalith snorted in disbelief, "You were smiling and waving."

Sam opened his mouth to speak but closed it again when he realised he didn't really have a good argument. "Why did you come here?" he asked grumpily, folding his arms across his chest,

"Leille made me."

Sam raised an eyebrow, "Your sister sent you here?"

Kalith nodded, "When I told her what happened, she sent me straight up here to apologise." She said, looking annoyed.

Sam smirked, "Least one of you has manners."

Kalith frowned, "I have manners!" She said, her voice becoming shrill as her anger came back.

"Yet you speak to a prince like that?"

"I'll treat you like a prince when you start acting like one!"

She glared at Sam who just stared back. They stayed like that for a moment before Kalith sighed angrily and walked over to the door, swinging it open. Sam watched as she stepped through but turned back to face him, "So are you coming or not?"

Sam blinked, "Coming?" he asked confused,

"Yes, to the party. Your sister's looking for you."

"Then what was that for?" Sam asked, pointing to the food.

"Peace offering." Kalith said with a smile, before disappearing behind the closing door.

Hehehe yay! All friends again! I really like Kaliths character now. I didn't at first but she's started to grow on me! Rightoff to write the next chapter! (again very very sorry for not updating!)Toodles!