After the recent review from a lovely author, I remembered I had started this story, and had more chapters finished, written, and waiting to be uploaded. I'm not sure how many people still read this (after the like, 2 years!), but even if it's for my one fan, here you go!

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The cavern was warm and lively that night. Men and women laughed heartily in the dim yellow glow, clinking thick wooden mugs as mead and wine spilled over. The bar was lined with men, telling stories with exaggerated motions, and swearing loudly when they knocked over a cup. A barmaid brushed by, her hands full of mugs, dark blue skirt flowing lightly behind her. I scanned the room, falling upon a couple pouring two glasses of a dark, blood red liquid. My eyes lit up.

"Wine. We need wine."

Aidan suppressed a laugh, settling for a smirk instead. He pulled my arm and began to drag me towards the bar. "Yes, wine, but that's later. Mulled mead." He said simply, nodding towards the drunken men.

I wrinkled my nose in distaste. "That's a manly drink. I don't do mulled mead."

He took a seat, his grin now broader than ever. "Well you do now."

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I hiccoughed, wondering how long ago we'd stopped competing, and grinning at the flesh colored blur before me that I hoped was Aidan. Then again, so what if it wasn't? I should get out more. Make friends. Yeah...I decided I would. And I would start with this man right here.

I stuck out my hand. "My name's...um..." I paused. I knew this one, I had to. Oh! Right. "Lisanne! Mhmm. Pleased to meet you."

Laughter bubbled in my chest, but suppressed it with all my might. Regardless, I snorted as I held out my hand. Ohh...very un-Princess like. But then again, so was getting drunk -– I had never had this much in all my years. But then again, I wasn't drunk. No.

The figure took my hand lightly and laughed. He laughed. Why was he laughing? Was my name funny? I frowned. Wait. Thought. What if he liked funny? What if funny was good? Maybe I should have told him a more amusing name. I resolved to try this with the next person. I hopped (well, stumbled) off the barstool to go and introduce myself more. Maybe, next time, I could just say I was a Princess. Hah! What a good pick-up line.

An arm wrapped around my waist, stopping my procession. It was the man I had just introduced myself to. Honestly. Men are such pigs.

"Excuse me!" I gave him a scornful look. "We just met. I really don't think --"

"Oh, did we?"

I paused. "I –- yes. We did. Unhand me or...or..." Hmm. Good threats, good threats..."buy me another drink!" Some remotely sober part of my brain said that wasn't a good one, but that mead really does grow on you. Can't be helped.

The man didn't let go. He did, in fact, put another arm around my waist and pulled me closer, so for the first time, I was close enough to focus on his face. Oh, god. His face.

"I don't think that's a good idea." He said, grinning wickedly.

I prayed I didn't say anything stupid before. I didn't act stupid, did I? I couldn't remember.

"You. You and you're mulled mead are evil." I said, slurring a little less than before. "You did this to me."

He raised an eyebrow, and his gaze traveled from my eyes to my feet, and back up again. "Don't look so bad though, do you?"

Whether from the alcohol or sheer embarrassment, I felt my cheeks begin to flush. I didn't say anything as he slid a small pile of shimmering gold coins across the counter, or as he got up and guided me gently across the room. Suddenly we were outside, the cool evening breeze dancing across my skin, and making me feel, at least, a little bit less intoxicated. My actions, however, I still blame on the mead.

I stopped dead in my tracks, feeling my arm give a jerk as Aidan realized I stopped. He gave me a questioning glance, and by now I could properly see his face; tousled light brown hair, classic chiseled features, bright and lively jade eyes. He walked to me, some confusion showing on his face. But I was resolute in my plan.

With a small grin I pulled his arm nearer, reaching for his shirt. I tugged the fabric closer to me (though I think he helped, seeing as I was in no condition for this). He seemed startled but raised no objections. That's what I had, in all my drunken scheming, hoped for. In one swift movement I was half on my tiptoes, lips pressed firmly against his. I think this surprised him even more, but after a moment I felt his arms around my waist, pulling me close enough to feel his heart through the thin fabric of his shirt. Shocks ran down my spine as he softly kissed me back, but all too soon he was pulling back. I felt panicked.

"No." he said softly, than repeated firmly, "No. This...you can't. You're a Princess."

"...And I can do what I want. What difference does that make anyway?"

He paused, frowning. "Fine. But you're drunk."

I frowned. "Not drunk enough to not know what I'm doing." (That was slightly untrue. But I couldn't let him win this either way).

A fierce inner battle took place in his mind –- I could see it in his eyes. He bit his lip gently, gaze traveling between the floor and me before grabbing my hand and looking away.

"Come on." He said, pulling me as he walked. "You need some sleep."

I pouted, firmly digging my heels in the ground. "You don't believe me. I came here to find you and you still don't trust me."

He turned back, his gaze looking slightly apologetic. "I know. And if you're so set on this I'll talk in the morning, once I'm sure you're in your right mind."

I bit back the retort on my tongue and decided maybe I was slightly unreasonable right now. With a sigh I followed his lead to the room, hastily collapsing on the bed and not waking until long after the sun had risen.

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"Mmm..." I mumbled, rolling over on the bed. A bright light was streaming in from the window, burning red-hot patterns into the back of my eyelids.

"Morning, sunshine."

I grumbled louder at Aidan's cheery voice, head pounding as I hid under a pillow.

"Mph phfeel likeph mmImph mying."

"What?"

I pulled up the pillow a bit. "I said, I feel like I'm dying!" I shouted, instantly regretting it as my head seemed to split. "Uhh..." I flopped back down on the bed.

"You really should get up. We're nearing the southern portion of Arias Nehalem, but we're far from leaving it. I want to get to East Lessien today.

"Alright, alright." I snapped, feeling more than a little irritable at Mr. Chipper. "When did you get up anyway?"

He pulled on his coat. "Hour or two ago. You forget I didn't drink as much as you. And," he added with a smug grin, "I can hold it better too."

I rolled my eyes and clambered out of bed, throwing him a disdainful look as I passed by to get my overcoat too. I pouted as I grabbed a boot from under the battered wooden desk in the corner.

"I'll bet they have baths here. It wouldn't take long if I-"

"No." Aidan cut in.

I huffed resentfully, pulling my laces tighter with more force than was needed. Aidan remained stationary by the door, watching me get ready and looking slightly amused. I avoided his eyes actively, continuing to get ready. Part of me became paranoid; was he just smiling because of my anger, or was he thinking of something else entirely? I paused suddenly as remembrance flooded back to me -- last night. Me on my tiptoes kissing him. Oh, God. I kissed him. I kissed him and he pushed me away.

A flush crept up my cheeks and I tried to push all memories of the pervious night out of my head. I realized I had been silent for too long, and there was no way I would share what I was thinking with him. If he wouldn't bring it up, I wouldn't either.

"What's so funny anyway." I demanded irritably, falling back into my previous mindset.

He shrugged. "Nothing."

I narrowed my eyes at him skeptically before lacing my boots up to my shins. My bad tempered mood only continued to grow when I splintered my hand on the railing as we traveled down the stairs.

"Oh, honestly!" I exclaimed crossly. I let my knapsack drop to the floor with a satisfying thud. Muttering curses under my breath I dropped to my knees, looking contemptuously at my palm, where I could now see the size of the offending piece of wood.

There was a rustling of clothing as Aidan followed suit, laughing quietly. I shot him daggers when our eyes met but he continued to smile, shaking his head and looking to my hand.

"You're in rare form today, do you know that?"

I chose to respond to that by not responding at all.

"Well you don't have to talk then. I suppose you'd rather like that stake that's sticking in your hand to remain. Fine with me, I'm not feeling any pain from it."

He shrugged his shoulders carelessly. When his eyes found mine he gave me a patronizing look, clearly waiting for me to grow up and give in. Finally I let out a frustrated sigh.

"Okay! Fine. Just...hurry up about it." I said in an exasperated tone. Aidan gave me a disbelieving stare, so I tentatively added, "Please?"

He dropped his gaze to my hand. "Better." He held my hand in both of his, pulling it closer towards him to examine. A moment later he paused and let it go. "Wait one second."

After a few minutes Aidan reappeared holding something between his thumb and forefinger. He grinned and the object flashed in the light as he walked back towards me.

"You're in luck, the owner's wife likes to sew." He held up his hand, and for the first time I saw what it was –- a needle.

I felt myself tense slightly. "I-I don't think that's necessary." I looked down at my hand in awe. "What do you know? I feel good as new!"

I started to rise off my knees but Aidan caught me by the back of my shirt. He had a look of grim satisfaction on his face.

"Not in such a high and mighty mood now, are we?"

My jaw dropped slightly. "Are you doing this all to get even? Because, quite frankly, that's completely immat –- OW!"

I hadn't realized that Aidan already grabbed my hand from me and begun to push the needle into my skin. He looked up at me innocently.

"Now what were you saying? Something about me being immature, I think."

I scowled at him. "I said there's no reason to prod me with that" I nodded my head towards the needle, "just because I was being a little..." I trailed off, feeling stubborn.

Aidan grinned broadly. "You were being a little...?" He looked back down and fidgeted with the needle around the splinter.

"Ow ow ow!" I winced as he attempted to remove the splinter from the tender area, which was now starting to sting. "Okay, okay! So I was being a little insensitive earlier. I'm sorry, alright?"

"Hmm...I suppose I'll accept that, though if I must say, it was a little weak."

"You're cruel, you know that?" I said weakly, more focused on watching his hands. "Taking advantage of a girl in a situation like this."

Aidan's eyes found mine, appraising me with critical look. When he spoke, it was in carefully weighed tones.

"I don't take advantage of girls. I would think you, of all people, should know that."

Even when he turned back to my hand, I didn't move my gaze. It was now focused on a tiny chip in the railing, though I wasn't really looking at it. I swallowed hard, his words having rendered me speechless. I knew, of course, what he was talking about –- last night. I suddenly felt guilty. I don't remember at what point he removed the splinter and left, but what felt like a split second later, I was sitting alone. Rubbing my hand I quickly jumped to my feet, grabbing my leather knapsack and rushing towards the main entrance. Once out in the sunlight I scanned the area quickly, finally catching sight of a familiar figure walking away to my right.

"Aidan!" I quickly avoided colliding with an elderly man and hurried towards him. "Please, just wait a second."

He glanced back with a stern green stare. "What?"

I grabbed his arm. "Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't..." I let out a resigned sigh. Apologizing wasn't my forte, but he was clearly waiting for a conclusion to that statement. "I do appreciate what you did. I know you would never take advantage of anyone. When I said that I just...wasn't thinking."

There was a moment of silence, and I became afraid he wouldn't accept my apology.

"You tend to do that a lot."

I looked up, surprised by his harshness, but saw him giving me a wry smile. I let out a small sigh of relief.

"I know. Forgive me?"

He smiled. "Of course. Can't very well stay mad at you, can I? You're the only one who can stand me."

"I know. Pity for you." I jested in response. He threw me a playful smile and began to walk, looking back at me.

"Coming?"

I grinned. "Of course."