I looked at my mother as she stepped in front of Youko. She was in between my father and my love. My father's face was a mixture of anger, hurt, and betrayal. I felt sympathy for him.

"What?" he whispered.

"Do not kill him. He does not deserve it," my mother said sternly.

The Queen scoffed. "Oh, please. Mother and daughter in love with the same man. It is ridiculous."

The world froze just then. Youko's head shot up as the Arctic Queen said those words and looked at my mother and then to me. It was true! Pain erupted in my heart as I stared at my mother and Youko. Tears did not form and yet I felt as if my heart were truly breaking.

"Paytah," I whispered and I felt him grabbed me before I fell to the ground.

"Its okay, Princess," he said soothingly, "I'm here."

He picked me up and walked me out of there. I had one last look at Youko before I left the courtyard. My father had let him go and disappeared, feeling betrayed just like me. The Royal Family of the Arctic was talking amongst them and the villagers were getting up to leave. My mother ran hugging Youko tightly. He hesitated for a moment before hugging her with the same amount of love. It sickened me till no end. I rested my head against Paytah's strong shoulder and let pain and sadness sink in.

The second part of the prophecy had also been fulfilled. I was betrayed by not only Youko, who I thought was the love of my life, but also by my own mother, my own flesh and blood. It was sickening and hurtful. Now I knew what my father felt like, but he had it doubled. He was betrayed by me, his daughter, and his wife. My heart went out to him as I accepted the pain and suffering.

Paytah laid me on my bed and smiled weakly at me. "I'm sorry."

I nodded and caressed his cheek. It was smooth. "I know, but sometimes the truth is right before your eyes and yet you are too blind to see it."

He nodded. "Do you feel any better?"

I shook my head. "The pain seems to be more intense as I try to accept it."

"It's hard to get over. Being betrayed by your lover and mother at the same time."

"Youko wasn't my lover," I said, "He was more of the love of my life."

"Hurts even more then," Paytah whispered.

I looked at him. He was so strong and powerful. He cared so much for me and I cared for him as well, but not as much. Did he know what I was going through? I hoped not. His black eyes, which were once cold to me, filled me with great warmth and pleasure. His breath was warm against my lips as he kissed me softly.

I closed my eyes as opened my mouth for him to explore. He explored every inch of my mouth with such passion and care. I placed my hands on his face and kissed him with so much passion I surprised even myself. He pulled away from me and looked at me. I kissed him again.

"Princess….," he breathed.

"What?"

He pulled away from me before I could kiss him again. What was it about him that made me keep kissing him? Maybe it was me. Maybe doing this was helping me get the pain away, but then I would hurt Paytah. I twirled his hair around my finger.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I nodded. "Thank you, Paytah."

He blushed. "I've been waiting to do that ever since I saw you with Youko in the meadow."

I laughed. "That was why you kept staring at me, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, but I didn't know how to approach you, so I tried to do what Kimball does with women."

"Insult them?"

He nodded. "It works with him."

"Paytah, you and him are as different as a coward and a warrior. Just do what your body in comfortable with doing. You are such a gentleman," I kissed his lips, "don't change that."

He looked down. "How am I a gentleman when I kissed my Princess who has a fiancé?"

I lifted his chin to mine. "I enjoyed the kiss, Paytah. Prince Wyatt means nothing to me. He is nothing to me."

He kissed me. "I'm glad to hear it."

"Really?"

He nodded and kissed me. "I hate being jealous of other men when it comes to you."

I smiled. "Paytah, you are the best."

He blushed and I kissed him. We kissed each other passionately for a long time. No one came to my room. Not even Jackie, which was odd since she had raised me forever. Paytah kisses were addicting and I was addicted to them. Each time he pulled away I kissed him. At one point it turned into a little game, where he pulled away and I went after him, hungry for more. We laid next to each other on my bed, kissing each other. His hands were around my waist, holding me close to him, guarding me at all time. My hands were around his neck, stroking his hair and keeping him close. The pain in my heart was still there, but Paytah helped me ignore it. I pulled away from him, forcing myself not to go in and kiss him again.

His warm eyes looked at me and his lips formed into the cutest smile. "What's wrong princess?"

To tell the truth, I really didn't know. Something just felt wrong al of a sudden, but what, I did not know. I looked at him. Was this really what I wanted? Did I really want to be with Paytah, my guard? Jason was my guard and I felt feelings for him before I met Youko. I felt a sharp pain in my heart as I thought about him. Youko was my love. I knew it, but he was also my mother's. I hated it how the Arctic Queen knew that my mother and I were in love with Youko. I hated it how Youko still had feelings for my mother. I hated everything, except Paytah. And then I remembered my father. He was in more pain than I , that much was certain. Betrayed by your own wife and daughter for the same reason, the same man, was heartbreaking for sure. I wanted to cry for him. I had caused him pain as well, but I knew better now. You could never love a thief. Never.

I sat up. "I need to see my father."

Paytah raised an eyebrow at me. "That's a random thought. First, I am kissing you and then you want to see your father?"

I laughed at him. "I need to comfort him like you comforted me, but not in the same way."

Paytah smiled at me. "I understand. At least you are feeling well."

I nodded and stood up. Paytah wrapped his strong arms around me, kissing my neck. They were so soft and tickled. His breath sent shivers down my spine. I sighed and let him kiss me. He wanted me because of love. I knew that, but I wasn't ready to give him love. It was too soon. I needed time. Time to heal and time to forget.

"Guinevere," he moaned softly.

"Yes?"

"Order me to do something," he whispered, kissing my cheek.

"What do you mean?"

"Order me to do something," he repeated simply.

"I have nothing to order you to do."

"Comfort you?" he suggested.

I smiled. He was so eager to please me. I resisted the urge to order him to comfort me by thinking of my father. He needed more comfort than I and I was the only one who could comfort him as he got over the shock and despair of the betrayal. I breathed in a shaky breath and opened up my own doors and walked towards my father's receiving room. The guards told me he wasn't there, so I went to his throne room. He wasn't there either. I sighed and leaned against the wall. Paytah was next to me, holding my hand.

"We'll find him," he assured me.

"I wish I knew where he was. I wish I hadn't been blind about Youko and about my mother. I wish…..I wish I could start all over." Even as I said those words, I knew I would repeat the same mistakes, one way or another.

"We all do sometimes," he whispered, "but the most courageous thing to do is admit to your mistakes and move on."

"I know."

"Shall we try to find your father then?"

I nodded. "If only I knew where he would be. It's so hard to try and read his mind. If only I knew him better."

"Maybe you do know him well," Paytah said walking across the hall to the large window, "but your darkness is hiding it from you."

I tilted my head towards him. "What do you mean?"

He was in deep thought, his chin resting against him hand. "Your father is like you, Guinevere. In many ways that you do not see. Where would you go if you were in his place?"

I looked at him with awe and smiled. He knew my father and I better than I had expected. "Thank you, Paytah. Thank you so much."

Without thinking, I hugged him. He was shocked and wrapped his arms around me cautiously, but with love. I didn't want to cry anymore, but the tears were threatening to spill over. I smiled at him and walked away, towards my private garden that my father made especially for me so I wouldn't wander out. It started to rain, hard and pelting as I ran outside. I was drenched in seconds and I wander towards the center of the garden, hoping that my father was there. The many flowers were full of life and seemed to give off an unearthly glow. Odd since the day before they were almost dead. There was no turning back as I realized who was here instead of my father and he saw me.

"Guinevere," he whispered and stared straight through me with those beautifully painful gold eyes of his.

I glared at him through the blanket of water that separated us. "What are you doing here? Why are you not in the dungeons?"

He smiled at him and my heart flipped. "Your mother put an end to that. It seems that your father can't stand to see her in pain and abided to her wishes."

"How dare you speak of my father in front of me!" I screamed in rage.

His smile disappeared. "Guinevere, there are many things you don't know."

"Damn right," I cursed.

He smiled lightly, still aware of my anger. "I tried to keep it from you, but you wouldn't listen."

"I detest secrets and maybe if I knew this, I would have ridden you of my burden and left early."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "You placed no burden on me."

"Then on myself," I said coldly, "Now if you don't mind, I would like-."

"You would like to find your father," he interrupted, "I know. He was here earlier, just like you thought, but I led him away to heal."

"Why?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest, "I thought you hated him."

"Oh! I do, make no doubt about that, but his daughter cares from him deeply and I must abide by her wishes."

"No, you must abide by my mother's wishes, not mine."

I hurt him. I saw his eyes in a bit of pain as I said those words, but I didn't care. He hurt me more than he knew and I would give no mercy to him. No matter how much I hurt him, it would never equal to how much he hurt me. Ever.

"Guinevere, I see you are controlled by a surprising about of hatred and bitterness."

"No thanks to you," I said bitterly.

"What have I done?"

"You know very well what you've done!" I yelled as a very loud rumbling from the thunder and a crack of lightening sounded.

He sighed and it looked as if that sighed had contained his life. He slumped as much as his well toned and muscled body would allow him and his eyes looked old and tired. I stood defiant in my drenched black velvet gown and black dye running off of the tiara. He walked up to me and I back away, but he grabbed my arm. I struggled against him as his strong arms enveloped me against his body. I resisted until I had no strength left and collapsed against him, crying my heart out. The pain in my heart increased as he continued to hug me and I felt his lips against my hair. I let the tears flow freely. There was no point in holding them back. I was shaking violently from cry and from the coldness that was slowing taking over my body. Standing out here, while it poured, was going to do that. Youko knew it and I knew it, but neither of us cared. My nose was dripping and my eyes seemed to shed more tears then I had use for.

"Why do you cry for me?"

I hiccupped and swallowed a few times before answering. "You have stolen my heart. That should be enough to cry for."

"You have done the same for me, but I shed none."

I went stiff. "What did you just say?"

He was as stiff and motionless as a stone. I think he didn't realize what he had just said until I asked him to repeat. He held me against him, holding me close to his warm body as I shivered. I felt his heart beat against my cheek, slow and steady. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, listening to his heartbeats. The silence was deafening, even with the pounding rain. I looked up at him through my tears and the rain. He was staring straight ahead, eyes narrowed, lips tight and in a frown. I looked behind me and there was Paytah, staring at us with an open mouth and anger in his eyes.

"He seems to have an attraction to you," Youko said, his arms tight around me.

I nodded. "Somewhat, I suppose."

Paytah began to walk towards us, drenching his clothes and hair. He walked with a purpose and was stiff when he stopped in front of us. He looked at me and then to Youko. His eyes were a mixture of anger, hatred, pain, and sadness. I felt horrible for him, but he knew I wasn't ready to give him anything, but a warm bed and not even that. He knew that I was still in love with Youko, no matter how painful it was to hear and see him with my mother. He knew all of this and yet he continued to develop feelings for me.

"You wish to speak," Youko said coldly.

I pressed myself against Youko and wrapped my arms tightly around him as the rain came down in icy pellets. He stood protective over me and sheltered me as much as he could. Paytah raised an eyebrow at me and glared at Youko.

"You harm the Princess every time you come near her," Paytah said slowly, choosing his words with great care, "release her."

"Why would I do that? She is here on her own will. Talk to her about this, not me," Youko responded spitefully.

"He's right, Paytah," I said through chattering teeth, "I choose to be by him. I still…"

"You still what?" both of them asked me. They both were angry and I didn't know if it was at me or each other and, quite frankly, I really didn't want to find out.

"I still love him," I said softly, gripping onto Youko's shirt, "And I'm sorry if I hurt you. I didn't mean too, but I love him. I can't change my heart's desire."

"And how do you know he loves you?" Paytah asked savagely, "How do you know he will give you everything you want and need? How do you know that he'll cherish you and love you? How do you know that he'll keep you?"

I shrugged. "I don't, but that doesn't matter to me."

"I assure I will cater to her every need and provide for her," Youko said, "You have nothing to worry about."

"Except that the woman I love is in the hands of a thief," Paytah snapped over the now drizzling rain.

"What does it matter if I am a thief or a farmer?" Youko asked critically, "As long as I treat her well."

"It matters to everyone. No one would like to see the Princess Guinevere in the arms of a thief. No one would want to wish havoc upon her as will surely happen in your clan of barbarians."

"Choose your words carefully. I will not tolerate your insult to me or my clan."

"Then release Guinevere. Get away from her and let her cope with what you have done. You have fallen in love with her mother and yet you still hang on to Guinevere. Don't you see what you are doing? You are separating a family that is innocent."

Paytah had said too much without knowing all the facts. I felt Youko's body grow tight with anger and I knew if I wasn't in between them that he would've pounced on him and killed him. "And I suppose you would know nothing about their innocence, would you? No, I suppose not being one of their slaves. They feed you lies that cloud your judgment in their favor. Ask the Princess, she'll tell you everything."

"I'd rather not put her in any more pain and ask her questions that need not be asked. I am a gentleman like that," Paytah said coldly.

It was too late for me to stop him. He pushed me away from him and walked dangerously slow up to Paytah. Despite the danger, Paytah stood defiant.

"Youko, please don't," I pleaded.

He held up a hand and I became silent. No one challenged him once someone had insulted him too much. Not even a woman, but I had to do something. I couldn't let Youko kill him. Paytah had done too much for me and Youko was already in enough trouble.

I ran in front of Youko before he had a chance to attack. "Stop!"

He looked down on me, disgust in his face. "You wish to save this man? What has he done to earn a place in your heart? Does he intrude on my own space, Guinevere?"

I was silent.

"Answer me, Guinevere."

"Yes," I answered weakly, looking into his eyes, "But let me explain."

"No need to, Princess," he spat, "I understand where your loyalties lie. I'll rid myself from your life. No need to be in between us if it can be avoided." With that, he disappeared into the mist that had formed and I stood still, shocked that I had lost him again, but this time I had no one to comfort me. I only had myself.


That is that chapter. I am uber sorry that it took so long, seriously sorry, but there is much more on the way to come. I hoped you like it. It actually hurt to write the ending of that scence. Please comment or review or whatever. New chpaters on the way!!! Thanks for reading!!!