Chapter 12

A/N: I've noticed that poetry is often guiding the story along...there is a lot of poetry in this!

Midori woke early the next morning and heard the birds outside her window. Spring would almost be here.

She quickly bathed and changed into some brown breeches and blue tunic with a crisp white shirt and opened the window to let in some air. Sitting on her bed and brushing out her long black hair, she quietly hummed to herself:

When the seas are rough all you can do is wait

But when morning comes it'll be too late

You'll stop at my gate

And remember the good times we had

Before the ship sank, and all was sad

You knew love was fragile, you knew love was dear

But all was forgotten when I was near

Left far behind was your grief, and all your fear

Know this and know it well

Even if you die and go to hell

Even if you feel love is gone and that fear is born anew

I will always love you

"As will I" said a voice.

Startled, Midori looked up and she felt lips on her mouth before she had a chance to look at the person. But she did recognize that voice.

"Kalen!" she squealed, breaking the kiss and hitting him with a pillow she had grabbed. This caused her to burst into giggles, as he wrestled the pillow from her hands and hit her with it. Kalen laughed as Midori begged him to stop, through her laughter. She rolled to her stomach and crawled to the head of her bed, almost getting tangled in the sheets in the process. Kalen beat her to the end and grinned slyly as he raised the pillow to batter her again, she ducked and the pillow landed on the other side of the room, having been swung too hard.

Both were laughing hard by this time. And as Kalen went to stand up he tripped over the bed sheets and sent Midori flat on her back, Kalen's face close to hers.

Both froze, thinking.

It was a moment before Kalen blushed and sat up, clearing his throat. "I'm sorry about that" he mumbled.

Midori stood and kissed his cheek, "It's a mess I can clean" she replied and began fixing up the bed covers and hurrying to retrieve the pillow.

"I'll see you in the mess" she replied.

Kalen nodded, and left, his thoughts all tangled in a knot.