Shay took a deep breath, diving beneath the water. It felt cold and refreshing on her bare skin.

She kicked her legs, swimming downwards, into the depths below. She moved fluidly, keeping her arms at her sides to conserve energy. It felt wonderful to swim again. Surda had hot, dry summers, unlike her dear Dras-Leona, with its constant cool breezes coming off Leona Lake.

She had Lily used to play in that lake. They used to compete at who could hold their breath longer, or swim farther without coming up for air. Sadness flooded Shay's heart.

No. She pushed the thoughts away. Swimming was something she loved to do. Memories of Lily couldn't haunt that too. She wouldn't let them.

She let a few bubbled escape her lips as she reached the bottom. Moonlight filtered in from the surface, casting flitting shapes over her body.

Shifting through the sand at the bottom, Shay found a shell that appealed to her. It was drab and a muddy brown color, but a chip on the edge revealed a rainbow of pearlescent pink and white hues. Hidden beauty. She put the shell in the bag she had brought down with her.

Stroking with her arms, Shay continued to search the bottom. In the whitish half-light she uncovered half a dozen more tiny treasures. A stone that would glow the color of Saphira's scales if she polished it, a smooth piece of marble rock that felt strangely warm and comforting, a shell that looked like a dragon's tooth. They all disappeared into her bag.

A familiar, slightly uncomfortable ticking in her chest told her she was running out of air. She let a few more bubbles, anxious to prolong her stay under the waves. Nothing could bother her down here. It was a separate world, a world with no duties or rumors, no sword practice or stupid memories that wouldn't leave her alone. No worries.

When finally Shay could hold her breath no longer, she began towards the surface, far above. She kicked with her legs and stroked powerfully with her arms. Her chest felt empty and tight because of lack of air.

She broke the surface, gasping to fill her lungs. Ahhhh….that felt better.

All was silent, besides the slight splash Shay made as she treaded water. But the former captain had a distictive tingle in the back of her neck, an instinct she had developed over the time she had spent protecting Orrin from harm. She was being watched.

Shay scanned the shoreline with careful eyes, looking for the source of her unease. She couldn't see anyone…the shore was clear. Just sand, and…there! In the tree by the shore where she had left her clothes. A branch swayed gently in the wind—except there was no wind to sway in.

"I can see you!" she cried to the figure in the tree. "Show yourself!" Now that she knew the general position, she could make out a shadowy outline.

The figure dropped from the tree to the soft, white sand. Shay recognized the way it moved, like liquid metal, strong, supple. Cocky quicksilver. Vanir.

"Well spotted, Everwood," he called, raising his arms over his head in mock surrender. "Well spotted indeed."

Shay sank lower in the water to hide her bare shoulders. Nonetheless, Vanir had noticed. He laughed, not quite unkindly, but far from kindly either.

Shay swam towards the shore, making sure to stay low in the water. She kept her eyes on him the entire time, until she reached the shore.

"Turn around," she ordered curtly. Vanir raised an eyebrow, not responding.

"Turn around," she repeated. Vanir looked at her meaningfully, still silent.

Shay stared at him in disbelief, reading the meaning in his eyes. "Vani—"

He shrugged wordlessly.

Shay sighed. "Turn around, please," she grumbled discontently.

Vanir smiled half-sincerely, turning obligingly away from her. Shay scrambled out of the water, laid her bag on the ground, and started to slip into her tunic, her back to Vanir. She finished dressing and turned back towards him, only to find he had resumed his original position and was staring at her with faint amusement.

"People don't watch other people dress," Shay snapped, feeling less violated than she thought she would have in this situation. Annoyance made her snappish.

Vanir gave a snorting laugh. "Actually, they do. Rather often, in fact."

Shay groped for a comeback. He was right, or course. As usual. "Well…well…" finding no words, she resorted to grumpy silence.

Vanir shrugged, unconcerned about her feelings on the matter. He saw nothing wrong with what he had done. It was strange Shay found it so objectionable…

The stood in brooding stillness, looking out at the lake. Shay thought she would burst. Could he be any more annoying?

"What's up with you, anyway?" she asked bluntly. Fixing him with her blue gaze.

He blinked, incomprehension in his eyes.

"What happened to the person I danced with?" Shay pushed. "What have I done to make you hate me?"

Vanir looked at her, a faint, condescending smile on his lips. "Is that what this is about? My actions in Lillendale?"

Shay hesitated. Something on his face told her she had overlooked something important. Her silence provided all the confirmation Vanir needed.

"I told you things would change when we reached Ellesméra, did I not?" he asked contemptuously.

"But why did you pretend?" Shay inquired. "You must have known your deception would lead to this."

"What is this?" Vanir questioned, his gaze making Shay feel weak. "Are you saying you harbor feelings for me?"

His voice was light and uncaring, as if it didn't matter at all. As if she was just a stupid little girl with a crush. Shay folded her arms over her chest, looking away and refusing to answer.

Vanir rolled his eyes heavenward. "Shay," he said, as if explaining something so totally obvious that she was a complete idiot not to know already. "Lillendale is a place of rejoicing. A place of passion."

"I don't understand," Shay said crossly.

Vanir sighed, rubbing his temples. "Lillendale is different from other cities," he began. "It is a place of endless celebration. What happens in Lillendale stays in Lillendale. Every elf knows that."

"You're saying that nothing that happens there matters?" she asked, appalled, "You used me for some stupid enjoyment?"

"Shay, you don't understand. The elves of Lillendale weave magic into their songs. It's a wonderful, passionate, intoxicating magic, but it often makes people act foolishly. I got carried away."

Shay laughed disbelievingly. "You blame your lying on the music? That's pathetic."

"Shay, my intention was not to cause you harm. I should have been in better control. But you don't have to act like a child."

"A child?" Shay was close to yelling now. "Vanir, you deceived me. You made me think you felt something."

Vanir gave a tired sigh, as if dealing with a baby having a temper tantrum. "Shay—"

"Stop Shaying me!"

"Everwood," he said instead, "despite what I may have said or done in Lillendale, I am not attracted to you. Stop acting so immature."

"Swear it," Shay hissed, ignoring him.

Confusion flickered across Vanir's face.

"Swear you feel nothing for me," Shay repeated.

"I sw—"

"In the Ancient Language."

Vanir opened his mouth, then shut it again. "I don't have to explain myself to you," he told her coldly. He turned and stalked away, pausing only to spit, "grow up," in her general direction.

The instant he was out of sight, Shay felt a scream welling up in her chest. She pushed it down, content to scream inside, silently. She didn't want to give Vanir the satisfaction of knowing he had gotten to her.

Only when she had run out of inner screams did a thought cross her mind.

Vanir had not sworn.