Jonathan wandered the palace, searching for his wife. He hadn't seen ehr all day, and she had been distant the night before. He wondered silently about why she would be so upset?

"Your Majesty? King Jonathan..." A servant ran up to him, panting.

"Yes, Denver?" He turned, worry in every wrinkle of skin on his body. "Did you find her?"

"Yes, your Majesty, in the courtyard." He turned and led him to the courtyard, walking through doorways, going down halls and flights of stairs: the palace was quite big to search all by yourself for one person. Finally they got to the courtyard. They stopped in front of a window and Jonathan looked out tentatively. The Queen sat on a bench, looking at her hands and also looking like she had just been slapped in the face, for some strnage reason. He looked at his servant, who nodded his approval, and walked out into the sunlight.

"It's about time you told me what's been bothering you, Thayet." He said as he sat next to her and snaked his arm around her shoulders. She slowly looked into his ice-blue eyes as though she was off in her own world, hurt stuck in her eyes. "Sweet, you look as though you were slapped in the face."

"I was, if that's what you call disappointed and confused." She said, tears escaping her blurry vision. The King held her close as she cried silently into his chest.

"Tell me. I want to know." Jonathan said once she had calmed down.

"Seventeen years ago. Our first child." She said, looking at him with puffy eyes. He winced, remembering the loss of his first born.

"Yes. I remember." He said quietly.

"When I... left you, I met the man I was staying with. I told you all about it, do you recall it?" He nodded and she smiled weakly. "I was using the name Kaden with him. He didn't know the difference."

"Kaden? What about it?"

"I didn't exactly name the babe when I bore her, and I know he took her away from us, but what if he named her after me?"

"What are you getting at?" Jon said as he sat up, confusion set in his complexion. He rubbed his beard, thinking. Thayet stood up next to him.

"I heard from my ladies that there was a girl staying here with that name. Kaden, with black hair and ice-blue eyes." As he looked at her with joy springing to life, she smiled slightly. "She's seventeen, Jon, and she's alive." The smile vansihed from her clear face and it was replaced with the memories of the ball. "I thought she would come to the ball, just to meet the King and Queen. To dance, meet new people and have fun. She wasn't there, Jon. Does she really exist?"

"There's only one way to find out, dear. We have to wait for her. If she's real, she might have gone somewhere. She could be anywhere in the realm by now. But, if she comes back, which we can hope she does, we will find her. I promise." He smield, and swept her up in a comforting hug. "Now, what do you say about a walk around the palace?"

They had already made it to Whitehorn, and in record timing, despite their encounter with bandits. Kaden was weak still, because of the deep cut in her side, so she had taken it easy on the road. Allan made her go to sleep early and Ambrose had convinced her to take the medicine she had made for her. 'Thank the Goddess Ambrose is a healer and a mage.' Kaden had thought one day when her side had ached so bad she couldn't ride. Ambrose gave her an herb crushed in boiled water and it had soothed the pain until it was gone. That's how they had made it to Allan's home so quickly.

Kaden was in the gardens - they had magnificent ones at his home - walking silently and calmly. It was nice just to relax and forget about everything.

"Kada..." Allan said from behind her. It sounded like he ran towards her.

"Allan, don't call me by my nickname, I hate-" She was interrupted by his kiss. They had been doing that a little more often these days. Ambrose was busy with one of Allan's older brothers who was a mage, so Kaden was usually with Allan all by herself. They had lots of privacy here at Whitehorn. His lips were always soft and this time they tasted like spices and sugar. She kissed him back intently, with passion. Warmth spread through her body from his hands on her waist and her hands on his back.

"What was that for?" She asked when they had broken the kiss. He held her hand in his and they walked on. She was concious of his hand in hers and looked down to approve of it.

"Just because I love you." He looked at her without a doubt in his brown eyes. He had never told her this before, and she was shocked. She didn't expect him to be so blunt. He was completely serious, too. "Kaden, we need to talk about our relationship. You like me, right?"

"Yes, Allan, why?" She asked curiously and still in shock.

"I want to be more than friends." He looked at her with the look Markus gave Lalita. The look Duke Nash gave Dutchess Sada. It was love.

"You really love me..." She said. He nodded. "You want to court me?" She asked, really shocked and getting to the bottom of the mystery.

"Yes, Kaden. I love you." He said. He looked a bit worried, maybe because he feared Kaden would refuse or because he wanted so badly for her to love him as much as he loved her. When she finally smiled, he swept her up in a kiss more passionate than the first. She winced as he touched her wound and he put her on the ground slowly. She made a face as he smiled foolishly at her.

They continued to walk in silence, holding hands all the way. There was no need ot hide their feelings for each other.

Voices came from the path ahead. It sounded like Ambrose talking. Her voice was soft and sweet.

"-wanted you to know that."

Kaden and Allan came into the clearing and saw the two mages. Unfortunately, they were too busy with other matters to worry about people secretively watching them. They were kissing intently, caught in the moment of pleasure.

"Shh," Allan whispered. "Let's leave them to their business, huh?" Kaden nodded and they padded away into the house. 'I guess I'm not the only one who's found a love interest.'

A/N: Funfunfun chapter! Lots of fluff! Hoped you enjoyed it, and please give suggestions for the next one. Oh, and as always, R&R!

P.S. Sorry for taking so long with the next chappie. This week was so busy! - AM